THE LORD'S PRAYER (Part #2) - "Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'"
The Lord's Prayer is by far one of the most common passages in the entire Bible, and arguably one we gloss over more easily due to its familiarity. It is a tutorial on what to say and how to say it, when we find ourselves caught in the unfamiliarity and awkwardness of praying. In many ways, the Lord's Prayer is far more than just an example to follow. It provides perspective and clarity for those of us who need a daily reminder of who we are in respect to God's supreme authority. In a world where celebrities are idolized and post-modernistic thinking is widespread, we can rest assured that the Lord is still sovereign and hears the cries of His people. Therefore, we confidently exalt, "Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?" (Exodus 15:11). God not only hears our cries but has the power to meet our needs, albeit not what we prefer at times because His will is not fully visible for us to comprehend. He chooses what He wants to share with us, just as we choose whether to submit to His authority or not. No man can admit to being held captive against his will when the Lord is involved, for we have free will to embrace or reject His gift of salvation. But to those who accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, blessing and honor arise as we embrace the call to fulfill His great commission throughout the world. "You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you" (John 15:14-16).
As we break down each stanza of the Lord's Prayer, we must realize this format is a tool to build off of, not an end in and of itself. There are indeed times when we struggle with what to say to God in prayer. Our emotions elevate to the point where words simply fail to convey what's on our heart, and we're left silently frustrated by our inability to express how we're truly feeling. In those moments, God's Word teaches: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26-27). How amazing is this promise! No matter what we face, we can know with complete certainty that God hears our cries and more importantly, understands how we feel. There is no wondering whether God is listening because the Spirit intercedes for those who trust in the name of Jesus. Friends, this should liberate us; for no longer do personal fears and insecurities have any authority to hinder our prayers. Rather, we are empowered to take the Lord's Prayer and use it as a launching pad to freely express our hearts to the Lord, under the guidance and direction of Christ's teaching and the Spirit's intercession. Contrary to popular "religious" belief, Jesus never intended this teaching to be a mantra used by certain denominations as an all-encompassing prayer to eliminate the need for creative expression. No, the Lord's Prayer is rather like a map chartering our course along the seas of life—stopping at key ports along the way in order to equip us with needed supplies for the spiritual journey ahead.
Jesus emphasizes adoration as the quality we should begin our prayers with, giving praise to God for who He is. "The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!" (Psalm 99:1-3). Often times, we judge God and determine our level of respect for His authority based on the outcome of our prayers. In other words, we trust His sovereignty more if our prayers are answered as we see fit, compared to mistrust when things don't go our way. We must understand that adoration conveys sentiments of love, reverence, worship and respect. None of these qualities are conditional opportunities for doubt, but assurances that God is worthy to be glorified because His hallowed name speaks for itself. Therefore, we can boldly proclaim, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation" (Isaiah 12:2). Beginning our prayers by referring to God as "Abba" or "Father" sets the tone for personalizing our prayers, yet does not undermine our respect for His authority. God desires for us to come to Him as little children who long for the guidance and protection of their heavenly Father. Even "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven'" (Matthew 19:14), in order to emphasize the importance of approaching God's throne with complete trust in the Father's love, just as a child would. Therefore, who are we to elevate ourselves in any way that undermines the Father-son or Father-daughter relationships we are freely given in Christ? It is important to point out that "hallowed be your name" is also translated, "Let your name be kept holy," or "Let your name be treated with reverence." The name of the Lord affirms His character and integrity, and we wise to recognize how revering His name (and not using it in vain) establishes our submission to His sovereign authority. "There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might" (Jeremiah 10:6).
Keep in mind, the holiness of the Lord is so immense that the prophet Isaiah immediately professed when He saw God in a vision, "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" (Isaiah 6:5). The holiness of the Lord magnifies our sinfulness as sons and daughters of Adam, and whether we trust the Lord more than ourselves. Calling for God's kingdom to reign is one thing, but aligning our hearts with the will of the Lord is where we step forward from adolescence to adulthood, spiritually-speaking. We need not look any further than Jesus' example in the garden of Gethsemane to understand what it means to relinquish control of our lives for God's will. "Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here, while I go over there and pray.' And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.' And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will'" (Matthew 26:36-39). If there is one aspect of prayer we often miss, it is relinquishing control of our lives and allowing God to use us for His glory any way He sees fit—which may thrust us into trials, calamity or persecution. For if we desire for the glory of heaven to displayed, our prayers must compel us into faith application where humility and reverence testify to our salvation. "In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence" (Hebrews 5:7).
Similar to surrendering our personal will, Jesus encourages us to relinquish selfish desires and embrace contentment. This plays out by asking the Lord to simply provide for our daily needs, that we may be well equipped to serve Him to our full potential. Of course, this casts an overwhelming shadow on how comfortable or content we are with God's provision in our lives, and even more-so regarding what we petition God for during prayer requests. The apostle Paul wrote, "But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction" (1 Timothy 6:6-9). We should never be afraid to present our desires to the Lord, but we are encouraged to pray with proper perspective and wisdom, because the treasures of this world can become a stumbling block if we are not careful. Moreover, we must continually recognize how indebted we are to the Lord for the price He paid for our salvation. Entitlement is a dangerous cancer in the life of a Christian. It pridefully declares we are owed something and have the right to judge the motivations of others as we see fit. The minute we begin feeling entitled, we become lazy admitting our sins but keenly aware of the sins others commit against us. How ironic! Therefore, we must shift our focus inward by seeking forgiveness for our sins and freely forgiving others because of the debt Christ paid for us. "How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye" (Luke 6:42).
The final conclusion to the Lord's Prayer is a sincere plea for God to protect us from evil dangers which seek to destroy our faith. Notice that Jesus does not model a request for God to dispel every spiritually compromising and tempestuous situation that could potentially come our way. He did not spare (Simon) Peter by foretelling his denial (nor will He spare us as well), because He knew the testing of Peter's faith would produce perseverance (just as it will ours). "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:31-32). Therefore, we are encouraged to posture our hearts in such a way where we embrace trials and tests of faith the Lord allows, and trust He will never leave us or forsake us despite our struggles and failures. "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). The more we understand the meaning behind each stanza of the Lord's Prayer, the better equipped we are to pray without ceasing, empowered by the Spirit, and with thanksgiving for who He is and what He has done for us. May we never forget the immeasurable love God has for those of us who trust His Word with confidence, submit to His authority without reservation, and obey His commands unconditionally. For we are loved by our Father in heaven with words inexpressible, proven by the sacrifice of His Son for sinners who least deserve grace and mercy. "I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live" (Psalm 116:1-2).
Sunday, November 27, 2016
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Matthew 6:5-8 (Devotion)
THE LORD'S PRAYER (Part #1) - "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
Prayer is an essential, spiritual discipline of the Christian faith, yet many of us struggle with how to pray. In truth, the problem lies more in "why" we pray than "how" we pray, or even "what" we pray about. We fail to maintain the prayer life we should have and aspire to because we lack understanding, for what good is it to have knowledge without application? Of course, technique and skill evolve over time the more we exercise our freedom to pray, but we typically fail to exude a fervent prayer life because we lack wisdom. Wisdom affirms the role prayer plays in connecting our hearts to the heart of God. Like a child in the womb connected to its mother by an umbilical cord, our spiritual health and existence are dependent upon daily fellowship with God through prayer. Without it, we cannot survive. Therefore, if we are to live abundantly in Christ, we must address the elephant in the room that can make or break our journey of faith like no other. Jesus said to His disciples only moments before He was betrayed, "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Mark 14:38). If we confess the name of Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we must be keenly aware that opportunity abounds for weeds of temptation to take root in our hearts and choke out the good work produced in us at salvation. "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death" (James 1:14-15). Therefore, we must be diligent to resist Satan's attempts to distract us from making prayer a spiritual discipline in our lives, because our flesh is quick to abandon our post in favor of more enticing desires.
Before we address Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:5-8, we must take a moment and reflect upon our attitudes toward prayer and the fruit (or lack thereof) we are experiencing. Are we content with our prayer life? Does it even exist outside of great need or catastrophic moments? Charles Spurgeon offers incredible perspective that not only has stood the test of time (written 156 years ago), but echoes the heart of man and his struggle to find contentment in prayer. "There are so many persons who complain that they don't enjoy prayer. They don't neglect it, for they dare not; but they would neglect it if they could, because they don't find any pleasure in praying. And don't we all have to admit that sometimes when we pray, that it is very difficult work and seems to be almost drudgery? We spend the allotted time, but we rise from our knees unrefreshed, like a man who has laid on his bed but has not slept, so he hasn't really recovered his strength. When the time comes around again, conscience drives us to our knees, but there is not sweet fellowship with God. There is no crying out of our needs to him with the firm conviction that he will supply them. After having gone again through a certain round of customary utterances, we rise from our knees perhaps more troubled in conscience and more distressed in mind than we were before. There are many Christians, I think, who complain of this—that they pray not so much because it is a blessed thing that allows them to draw near to God, but because they must pray, because it is their duty, because they feel that if they did not, they would lose one of the sure evidences of being Christians" (Spurgeon, C.H., "True Prayer—True Power!" 1860).
The sheer accuracy and conviction of Spurgeon's words cannot be denied, especially considering how fast-paced and demanding our world has become on time management. Our attention is swayed in countless directions, and God is typically caught in the whirlwind of functional duties or squeezed out of our daily routine altogether. How can this be? Have we truly drifted so far off-course that the Spirit's conviction is but a faint voice in the distance? How can we expect to defend ourselves from spiritual warfare when quality time with the Lord is not prioritized with proper perspective, transforming duty into privilege and halfheartedness into complete abandon and surrender? Peter pleads with us, " Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world" (1 Peter 5:6-9). Prayer is the funnel through which we cast our anxieties, fears, trials, etc., at the foot of the cross, and it keeps our posture low in humility to avoid being attacked and destroyed by our enemy. Therefore, we have all the urgency we need to understand why prayer is such an integral part of our faith walk, and why ignoring the Spirit's conviction to maintain constant communication with God through prayer is so dangerous.
However, Jesus does not appear to focus on a non-exisistent prayer life in Matthew 6:5-8, but rather a hypocritical version despised by God. Those who posture and position themselves as righteous in the sight of man are regarded in Scripture as fools, because their motivation is rooted in selfish desires and fear of man. The Pharisees were called out by Jesus because they used prayer as a tool to exploit their personal agenda, cast a favorable light on their self-proclaimed righteousness, and masquerade themselves as pious, "for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God" (John 12:43). However, God's Word is clear: "The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe" (Proverbs 29:25). We cannot allow ourselves to be motivated by the world's expectations and definition of prayer, nor adore any deity as Supreme except the Lord Almighty. He alone is worthy of our adoration and praise, and only He can wash away our iniquity when we confess our sins and seek reconciliation with Him through repentance. The Lord declares, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 22:13). When we acknowledge who we are as sinners and who God is as sovereign and holy, we quickly grasp the importance of preaching to our own hearts, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).
We simply cannot wear Christian masks and publicly portray a life of righteousness and servitude to Christ while secretly harboring lusts of the flesh and elevating their authority and influence over God Himself. Otherwise, we risk alienation and eternal judgment because of our pride and hypocrisy. "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’" (Matthew 7:21-23). That is not to say we must live a perfect life devoid of sin in order to enter the kingdom, but we cannot assume we understand the mind of God when our lives are devoid of studying His Word and fervent prayer. Prayer is the means by which we commune with God by releasing our thoughts, feelings and emotions, and allowing His Spirit to bring healing and wisdom to our weary souls—but it must be genuine. Jesus warns that empty phrases do nothing more than exploit our spiritual immaturity and quench the Spirit's fire. Therefore, we are wise to think before we speak and guard our tongues to ensure our words are bathed in obedience to Scripture and surrender to Christ. "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent" (Proverbs 10:19).
Bottom-line, prayer is not easy. It takes time and effort to build consistency and an understanding of who God truly is to find joy and contentment, but we must shift our view of prayer from something we have to do, to something we get to do. It is nothing short of miraculous considering common man has 24/7/365 access to intimate fellowship with the Creator of the universe, and Jesus shed His blood and gave His life to provide that opportunity to those who are born-again. We tend to lose focus of how privileged we are, like a man who disrespects the immeasurable sacrifice military veterans or active duty make on our behalf to preserve our freedom. Therefore, revival must take place, and that begins with every follower of Christ prioritizing quality time with the Lord and shifting our perspective upward instead of inward. We simply cannot approach the throne of grace through prayer under the pretense of, "What's in it for me?" Fellowship with God is a privilege, not a duty we perform begrudgingly or with varying levels of disbelief. May we never forget that God not only hears our cries, but He has the power to meet our needs when we call upon His name and surrender our personal will for His own. We must stop placing expectations on God that He must answer our prayers as we see fit, otherwise He is not trustworthy. Friends, if we believe that lie the enemy has already won, because that is beginning of the end of our prayer life as we know it. No wonder many of us lack joy and enthusiasm when we pray! The Bible reminds us, "For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7b). Therefore, we cannot hide our heart's intentions from the Lord, but we can begin to allow His Spirit complete access to convict and heal us so we can be made whole again through the power of prayer.
Prayer is an essential, spiritual discipline of the Christian faith, yet many of us struggle with how to pray. In truth, the problem lies more in "why" we pray than "how" we pray, or even "what" we pray about. We fail to maintain the prayer life we should have and aspire to because we lack understanding, for what good is it to have knowledge without application? Of course, technique and skill evolve over time the more we exercise our freedom to pray, but we typically fail to exude a fervent prayer life because we lack wisdom. Wisdom affirms the role prayer plays in connecting our hearts to the heart of God. Like a child in the womb connected to its mother by an umbilical cord, our spiritual health and existence are dependent upon daily fellowship with God through prayer. Without it, we cannot survive. Therefore, if we are to live abundantly in Christ, we must address the elephant in the room that can make or break our journey of faith like no other. Jesus said to His disciples only moments before He was betrayed, "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Mark 14:38). If we confess the name of Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we must be keenly aware that opportunity abounds for weeds of temptation to take root in our hearts and choke out the good work produced in us at salvation. "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death" (James 1:14-15). Therefore, we must be diligent to resist Satan's attempts to distract us from making prayer a spiritual discipline in our lives, because our flesh is quick to abandon our post in favor of more enticing desires.
Before we address Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:5-8, we must take a moment and reflect upon our attitudes toward prayer and the fruit (or lack thereof) we are experiencing. Are we content with our prayer life? Does it even exist outside of great need or catastrophic moments? Charles Spurgeon offers incredible perspective that not only has stood the test of time (written 156 years ago), but echoes the heart of man and his struggle to find contentment in prayer. "There are so many persons who complain that they don't enjoy prayer. They don't neglect it, for they dare not; but they would neglect it if they could, because they don't find any pleasure in praying. And don't we all have to admit that sometimes when we pray, that it is very difficult work and seems to be almost drudgery? We spend the allotted time, but we rise from our knees unrefreshed, like a man who has laid on his bed but has not slept, so he hasn't really recovered his strength. When the time comes around again, conscience drives us to our knees, but there is not sweet fellowship with God. There is no crying out of our needs to him with the firm conviction that he will supply them. After having gone again through a certain round of customary utterances, we rise from our knees perhaps more troubled in conscience and more distressed in mind than we were before. There are many Christians, I think, who complain of this—that they pray not so much because it is a blessed thing that allows them to draw near to God, but because they must pray, because it is their duty, because they feel that if they did not, they would lose one of the sure evidences of being Christians" (Spurgeon, C.H., "True Prayer—True Power!" 1860).
The sheer accuracy and conviction of Spurgeon's words cannot be denied, especially considering how fast-paced and demanding our world has become on time management. Our attention is swayed in countless directions, and God is typically caught in the whirlwind of functional duties or squeezed out of our daily routine altogether. How can this be? Have we truly drifted so far off-course that the Spirit's conviction is but a faint voice in the distance? How can we expect to defend ourselves from spiritual warfare when quality time with the Lord is not prioritized with proper perspective, transforming duty into privilege and halfheartedness into complete abandon and surrender? Peter pleads with us, " Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world" (1 Peter 5:6-9). Prayer is the funnel through which we cast our anxieties, fears, trials, etc., at the foot of the cross, and it keeps our posture low in humility to avoid being attacked and destroyed by our enemy. Therefore, we have all the urgency we need to understand why prayer is such an integral part of our faith walk, and why ignoring the Spirit's conviction to maintain constant communication with God through prayer is so dangerous.
However, Jesus does not appear to focus on a non-exisistent prayer life in Matthew 6:5-8, but rather a hypocritical version despised by God. Those who posture and position themselves as righteous in the sight of man are regarded in Scripture as fools, because their motivation is rooted in selfish desires and fear of man. The Pharisees were called out by Jesus because they used prayer as a tool to exploit their personal agenda, cast a favorable light on their self-proclaimed righteousness, and masquerade themselves as pious, "for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God" (John 12:43). However, God's Word is clear: "The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe" (Proverbs 29:25). We cannot allow ourselves to be motivated by the world's expectations and definition of prayer, nor adore any deity as Supreme except the Lord Almighty. He alone is worthy of our adoration and praise, and only He can wash away our iniquity when we confess our sins and seek reconciliation with Him through repentance. The Lord declares, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 22:13). When we acknowledge who we are as sinners and who God is as sovereign and holy, we quickly grasp the importance of preaching to our own hearts, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).
We simply cannot wear Christian masks and publicly portray a life of righteousness and servitude to Christ while secretly harboring lusts of the flesh and elevating their authority and influence over God Himself. Otherwise, we risk alienation and eternal judgment because of our pride and hypocrisy. "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’" (Matthew 7:21-23). That is not to say we must live a perfect life devoid of sin in order to enter the kingdom, but we cannot assume we understand the mind of God when our lives are devoid of studying His Word and fervent prayer. Prayer is the means by which we commune with God by releasing our thoughts, feelings and emotions, and allowing His Spirit to bring healing and wisdom to our weary souls—but it must be genuine. Jesus warns that empty phrases do nothing more than exploit our spiritual immaturity and quench the Spirit's fire. Therefore, we are wise to think before we speak and guard our tongues to ensure our words are bathed in obedience to Scripture and surrender to Christ. "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent" (Proverbs 10:19).
Bottom-line, prayer is not easy. It takes time and effort to build consistency and an understanding of who God truly is to find joy and contentment, but we must shift our view of prayer from something we have to do, to something we get to do. It is nothing short of miraculous considering common man has 24/7/365 access to intimate fellowship with the Creator of the universe, and Jesus shed His blood and gave His life to provide that opportunity to those who are born-again. We tend to lose focus of how privileged we are, like a man who disrespects the immeasurable sacrifice military veterans or active duty make on our behalf to preserve our freedom. Therefore, revival must take place, and that begins with every follower of Christ prioritizing quality time with the Lord and shifting our perspective upward instead of inward. We simply cannot approach the throne of grace through prayer under the pretense of, "What's in it for me?" Fellowship with God is a privilege, not a duty we perform begrudgingly or with varying levels of disbelief. May we never forget that God not only hears our cries, but He has the power to meet our needs when we call upon His name and surrender our personal will for His own. We must stop placing expectations on God that He must answer our prayers as we see fit, otherwise He is not trustworthy. Friends, if we believe that lie the enemy has already won, because that is beginning of the end of our prayer life as we know it. No wonder many of us lack joy and enthusiasm when we pray! The Bible reminds us, "For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7b). Therefore, we cannot hide our heart's intentions from the Lord, but we can begin to allow His Spirit complete access to convict and heal us so we can be made whole again through the power of prayer.
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Matthew 6:1-4 (Devotion)
GIVING TO THE NEEDY - "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
When the sun sets upon the landscape and tenure of our lives, what legacy will we leave? Will we be labeled as a giver or taker, selfless or selfish? Giving is a critical component within the foundation of faith we commit to as born-again Christians. Giving allows us the opportunity to share in the bounty of what God has graced us with, and the satisfaction of knowing we are doing something good for others. Where giving becomes twisted and misconstrued lies completely on the heart's motivation. For we can easily donate our time, energy and finances to churches, missions and other charitable organizations, but is the source of our compulsion rooted in the idea, "What's in it for me?" We must ask ourselves introspective and convicting questions in order to reveal whether we're giving to be recognized, to receive praise or reward, or to appease guilt. Jesus said, "For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" (Luke 6:43-45). The fruit we bear provides testimony to the inward change produced in our hearts at salvation. Therefore, from God's perspective there can be no mistaking those who are genuinely transformed by the saving grace of Jesus Christ, because the heart's motivation is pure and selfless, just as He was.
When we last studied the book of James, we learned that the relationship between faith and works is paramount to the Christian faith. "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:14-17). We must be clear though that works do NOT play a role in saving a person from eternal separation from God. Works testify to the fruit produced as a result of our salvation. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-10). Allowing works to have any influence whatsoever regarding whether we spend eternity in heaven diminishes the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross when He shed His blood to pay the penalty of our sins. It is perhaps the most prideful statement we could ever make! Therefore, let us not be baited into doing good works as if they had any power to save us. They don't! Only Jesus can. "Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Corinthians 3:4-5).
Assuming we have a proper perspective concerning works, we can now shift our attention toward the manner in which we express our faith. Jesus' primary focus in Matthew 6:1-4 is hypocrisy and the impact it has on our personal relationship with God. Indirectly, it has everything to do with how we express our faith in a world that is closely monitoring our every move. Unbelievers typically view self-proclaimed, born-again Christians through the lens of authenticity/genuineness to determine whether we practice what we preach (and rightfully so!). Therefore, if we say we are sold out for Christ and seek praise and glory for ourselves by manipulating spiritual disciplines to shine a more favorable light on our benevolence, we have lost our moral compass and inflicting more damage than good. Scripture reminds us, "If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:3), in order to amplify the heart's condition and sift it's true intent. But Paul also warns, "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good" (Romans 12:9). Consequently, we must determine the root of our rebellion which twists saving faith into religious hypocrisy, for "the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:17).
Keep in mind, Jesus does not condemn giving. He simply rebukes those of us who do the right thing for the wrong reason. Giving is an expression of our faith, poured out in thankfulness because of what Christ has done for us. It should never be expressed with selfish intent, but to bless others. Our responsibility as Christians is to wisely manage and administer the resources God has given us, and determine how and where they may be best utilized. However, we must be aware that with great wealth comes great responsibility. "Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more" (Luke 12:48). The Lord's provision is intended to both provide for our needs and test our priorities. For if our motivations are selfish, we will hoard God's blessings for ourselves with little to no regard for the overwhelming need and evangelistic opportunity surrounding us. But if our intentions are pure and our giving rooted in unconditional love, God will provide multiple avenues of expression for grace to abound far beyond our comprehension. "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
When we allow God to work in us and through us for His glory, miracles happen. Hearts are changed, needs are met, and blessing overflows, yet many of us are reluctant to allow God full access to our checkbooks, bank accounts, etc. We doubt whether choosing to tithe is a wiser decision than holding back our resources to cover down on practical needs (which monopolize our attention). In those moments, we must remember that God is faithful and His Word is absolute, challenging us to step outside our comfort zone and trust His promises. For the Lord declares, "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need" (Malachi 3:10). Most likely, this covenant compelled Jesus to use the widow's offering as an example of what our hearts should look like if we proclaim ourselves as Christians. "Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, 'Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on'" (Luke 21:1-4). The widow did not give to be praised and adored for what she did. She simply obeyed God's Word and quietly gave all she had.
We must be keenly aware that giving exposes our hearts. What we typically overlook is that when our hearts are exposed, the genuineness of our faith is on full display for all to see. Make no mistake, hypocrisy is a cancerous sin within the body of Christ, constricting light and exposing darkness to those who are lost and skeptic. That is why Jesus amplified His message on giving; not as an exhortation to give more, but a warning to give selflessly. Far too often we quench the Holy Spirit by seeking recognition for what we've done, completely clueless that we're actually robbing God of His glory. May this never be! Rather, let us repent of any inclination within our hearts that seeks glory for ourselves when we give, that we may be cleansed of our impure motivations and made whole by the gracious forgiveness of our Lord. The church of Jesus of Christ will forever be constricted from reaching its full potential if we allow hypocrisy to reside in our hearts. But if we cast off selfish intent and embrace our fears by quietly giving far beyond our comfort level, we will begin to experience healing and transformation from the inside out that will impact the world around us and proclaim the Gospel to lost souls. Humility is the key. May we never lose sight of how critical genuine submission and obedience to Scripture truly are in the life of a Christ-follower, when we freely give of ourselves and our resources for God's glory. "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38).
When the sun sets upon the landscape and tenure of our lives, what legacy will we leave? Will we be labeled as a giver or taker, selfless or selfish? Giving is a critical component within the foundation of faith we commit to as born-again Christians. Giving allows us the opportunity to share in the bounty of what God has graced us with, and the satisfaction of knowing we are doing something good for others. Where giving becomes twisted and misconstrued lies completely on the heart's motivation. For we can easily donate our time, energy and finances to churches, missions and other charitable organizations, but is the source of our compulsion rooted in the idea, "What's in it for me?" We must ask ourselves introspective and convicting questions in order to reveal whether we're giving to be recognized, to receive praise or reward, or to appease guilt. Jesus said, "For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" (Luke 6:43-45). The fruit we bear provides testimony to the inward change produced in our hearts at salvation. Therefore, from God's perspective there can be no mistaking those who are genuinely transformed by the saving grace of Jesus Christ, because the heart's motivation is pure and selfless, just as He was.
When we last studied the book of James, we learned that the relationship between faith and works is paramount to the Christian faith. "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:14-17). We must be clear though that works do NOT play a role in saving a person from eternal separation from God. Works testify to the fruit produced as a result of our salvation. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-10). Allowing works to have any influence whatsoever regarding whether we spend eternity in heaven diminishes the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross when He shed His blood to pay the penalty of our sins. It is perhaps the most prideful statement we could ever make! Therefore, let us not be baited into doing good works as if they had any power to save us. They don't! Only Jesus can. "Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Corinthians 3:4-5).
Assuming we have a proper perspective concerning works, we can now shift our attention toward the manner in which we express our faith. Jesus' primary focus in Matthew 6:1-4 is hypocrisy and the impact it has on our personal relationship with God. Indirectly, it has everything to do with how we express our faith in a world that is closely monitoring our every move. Unbelievers typically view self-proclaimed, born-again Christians through the lens of authenticity/genuineness to determine whether we practice what we preach (and rightfully so!). Therefore, if we say we are sold out for Christ and seek praise and glory for ourselves by manipulating spiritual disciplines to shine a more favorable light on our benevolence, we have lost our moral compass and inflicting more damage than good. Scripture reminds us, "If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:3), in order to amplify the heart's condition and sift it's true intent. But Paul also warns, "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good" (Romans 12:9). Consequently, we must determine the root of our rebellion which twists saving faith into religious hypocrisy, for "the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:17).
Keep in mind, Jesus does not condemn giving. He simply rebukes those of us who do the right thing for the wrong reason. Giving is an expression of our faith, poured out in thankfulness because of what Christ has done for us. It should never be expressed with selfish intent, but to bless others. Our responsibility as Christians is to wisely manage and administer the resources God has given us, and determine how and where they may be best utilized. However, we must be aware that with great wealth comes great responsibility. "Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more" (Luke 12:48). The Lord's provision is intended to both provide for our needs and test our priorities. For if our motivations are selfish, we will hoard God's blessings for ourselves with little to no regard for the overwhelming need and evangelistic opportunity surrounding us. But if our intentions are pure and our giving rooted in unconditional love, God will provide multiple avenues of expression for grace to abound far beyond our comprehension. "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
When we allow God to work in us and through us for His glory, miracles happen. Hearts are changed, needs are met, and blessing overflows, yet many of us are reluctant to allow God full access to our checkbooks, bank accounts, etc. We doubt whether choosing to tithe is a wiser decision than holding back our resources to cover down on practical needs (which monopolize our attention). In those moments, we must remember that God is faithful and His Word is absolute, challenging us to step outside our comfort zone and trust His promises. For the Lord declares, "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need" (Malachi 3:10). Most likely, this covenant compelled Jesus to use the widow's offering as an example of what our hearts should look like if we proclaim ourselves as Christians. "Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, 'Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on'" (Luke 21:1-4). The widow did not give to be praised and adored for what she did. She simply obeyed God's Word and quietly gave all she had.
We must be keenly aware that giving exposes our hearts. What we typically overlook is that when our hearts are exposed, the genuineness of our faith is on full display for all to see. Make no mistake, hypocrisy is a cancerous sin within the body of Christ, constricting light and exposing darkness to those who are lost and skeptic. That is why Jesus amplified His message on giving; not as an exhortation to give more, but a warning to give selflessly. Far too often we quench the Holy Spirit by seeking recognition for what we've done, completely clueless that we're actually robbing God of His glory. May this never be! Rather, let us repent of any inclination within our hearts that seeks glory for ourselves when we give, that we may be cleansed of our impure motivations and made whole by the gracious forgiveness of our Lord. The church of Jesus of Christ will forever be constricted from reaching its full potential if we allow hypocrisy to reside in our hearts. But if we cast off selfish intent and embrace our fears by quietly giving far beyond our comfort level, we will begin to experience healing and transformation from the inside out that will impact the world around us and proclaim the Gospel to lost souls. Humility is the key. May we never lose sight of how critical genuine submission and obedience to Scripture truly are in the life of a Christ-follower, when we freely give of ourselves and our resources for God's glory. "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38).
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Matthew 5:43-48 (Devotion)
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES - "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Similar to His teaching on retaliation, Jesus expounds upon man's fleshly inclination to self-protect by charging him to step outside his comfort zone and do the unthinkable: Love thy enemy. In truth, we live predominately within a defined set of boundaries, strategically placed and positioned in our lives to guard and protect us. We extend grace and mercy as far as we're comfortable and see fit (which brings personal judgment into play), but our heavenly Father does not limit or cap the amount of grace He willingly extends us on a daily basis. In fact, the Lord declares in His Word, "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins" (Isaiah 43:25). Those who testify to the saving work of Jesus Christ for their personal salvation are covered by the promise of this everlasting covenant. No matter how guilty we feel about our sin, how far we run from the Spirit's conviction, or how regretful we are for the consequences of our sins, the Lord promises to graciously forgive and cleanse us if we humbly repent of our sins and turn from our wicked ways. There is no maximum quota we can exceed on the grace He freely offers, because the same Word that condemns our sin extends an unfathomable lifeline, which allows us to rest in His presence. "Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:20-21).
What Jesus clarifies in Matthew 5:43-48 is not an "either/or" ultimatum. The Old Testament law He references is absolute truth we are called to live by, just as it was for the nation of Israel. "You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD" (Leviticus 19:17-18). Loving our neighbor is not an instruction to be applied in lieu of loving our enemies, and that is the basis for Jesus' amplification of His Gospel message. When we love as Jesus loves, we are pulled from the safety and security of our self-protecting bubble into a world of uncertainty and risk. If we're being honest, many of us shudder at the mere thought, and get nervous, anxious and stressed over how we should respond to an ever-changing world spiraling deeper into depravity. What we must recognize is that when we strip away the facade of pride and insecurity we cling to in those moments, we begin to see with clarity as Paul did on the Damascus road that we have been led astray by our own volition. Temptation preyed upon our weak propensities, and we chose the security of idleness and comfort over the immeasurable risk and reward of living for Christ. It is no different than how Proverbs describes a man who does not resist the adulteress' temptation, but suffers the consequences of submitting to an idol of his own making. "With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life" (Proverbs 7:21-23).
Keep in mind, the instruction to "love thy neighbor and hate thy enemy" is not a directive made in Scripture, but a misrepresentation of who God is and His will for our lives. David affirms, "For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man" (Psalm 5:4-6). It is sin and wickedness that kindles the Lord's anger toward those who vehemently oppose His sovereign authority and holiness; however, the righteous are spared not due to perfection, but the blood of Jesus. Nonetheless, "The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence" (Psalm 11:5). God provides opportunities to test the spiritual maturity of His children in order to sift our hearts and determine where our true allegiance lies. For it is easy to say we are Christians, but to what extent are we willing to obey the Bible's teachings? Are we theoretically in agreement with Matthew 5:43-48, but secretly harboring unrighteous anger and hate toward those who oppose our theology and beliefs? Scripture affirms the sun will rise and rain fall on BOTH the believer and unbeliever, so what difference does it make whether we choose to love or hate? Truth be told as Jesus conveys, even unbelievers are extended common grace in order to compel their hearts toward repentance, for "the LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made" (Psalm 145:8-9).
Identity is the key to unlocking our ability to embrace love and cast off hatred. Jesus said, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:9-12). Love is the great equalizer and differentiates Christianity from all other religions. The Bible states, "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19), and that is what inspired God to sacrifice His own Son on our behalf, despite the fact we were once His enemies. Let us not forget that God first demonstrated what it means to "love thy enemy" by choosing to love us despite our persistent wickedness. "Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life" (Romans 5:9-10). The Lord does not ask anything of us that He has not already modeled by His Word. Therefore, we are without excuse as we wrestle with the truth of Matthew 5:43-48 in our own hearts, and how we might emulate the example provided for us. How then does love compel us to action? By remembering who we once were apart from Christ, and how we are made new IN Christ.
We love our enemies by looking back into our past and recognizing how hostile we once were toward the throne of grace. For if God chose to save sinners by willingly offering grace through faith, how can we continue to live hardhearted toward our enemies? In essence, are we not requiring a price be paid for the grace we extend others, all the while receiving grace for ourselves free of charge from the Lord? May it never be! We must remember where we came from, for that is the only way we allow God to perfect our character and countenance as we live out the Gospel by loving our enemies. "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he (Jesus) has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven" (Colossians 1:21-23a). Keep in mind, not every enemy of ours will come to recognize the love of our Savior when we extend love, grace, mercy and forgiveness toward them, but that is not the point. We are called to "be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving (our)selves" (James 1:22), for that is what differentiates a false believer from one who has been humbled by the enormity of his/her sin and need of a Savior.
Therefore, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:31-32). Bottom-line: Loving our enemies is not a suggestion Scripture alludes to, but a command. There is no fine-print escape clause that makes obedience to Scripture non-binding, because the blood of Jesus shed on our behalf to fulfill what God's divine law demands, bought our salvation. "For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men" (1 Corinthians 7:22-23). When we accept the free gift of salvation paid in full by Jesus Himself, we are no longer slaves to our flesh or the world, but bond-servants to Christ. What this means is we are set free from the crushing weight of our sin, and released from the prison of our self-imposed, self-sufficiency; indebted to Christ for the price He paid for our ransom, to bring glory to His name by submitting to, obeying and applying what the Bible teaches. Therefore, we cannot continue to be consumed by hatred for our enemies, but compelled to lay down our pride and extend love by faith, so that our obedience to the Great Commission might win souls for Christ. "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends" (1 Corinthians 13:7-8a).
Similar to His teaching on retaliation, Jesus expounds upon man's fleshly inclination to self-protect by charging him to step outside his comfort zone and do the unthinkable: Love thy enemy. In truth, we live predominately within a defined set of boundaries, strategically placed and positioned in our lives to guard and protect us. We extend grace and mercy as far as we're comfortable and see fit (which brings personal judgment into play), but our heavenly Father does not limit or cap the amount of grace He willingly extends us on a daily basis. In fact, the Lord declares in His Word, "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins" (Isaiah 43:25). Those who testify to the saving work of Jesus Christ for their personal salvation are covered by the promise of this everlasting covenant. No matter how guilty we feel about our sin, how far we run from the Spirit's conviction, or how regretful we are for the consequences of our sins, the Lord promises to graciously forgive and cleanse us if we humbly repent of our sins and turn from our wicked ways. There is no maximum quota we can exceed on the grace He freely offers, because the same Word that condemns our sin extends an unfathomable lifeline, which allows us to rest in His presence. "Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:20-21).
What Jesus clarifies in Matthew 5:43-48 is not an "either/or" ultimatum. The Old Testament law He references is absolute truth we are called to live by, just as it was for the nation of Israel. "You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD" (Leviticus 19:17-18). Loving our neighbor is not an instruction to be applied in lieu of loving our enemies, and that is the basis for Jesus' amplification of His Gospel message. When we love as Jesus loves, we are pulled from the safety and security of our self-protecting bubble into a world of uncertainty and risk. If we're being honest, many of us shudder at the mere thought, and get nervous, anxious and stressed over how we should respond to an ever-changing world spiraling deeper into depravity. What we must recognize is that when we strip away the facade of pride and insecurity we cling to in those moments, we begin to see with clarity as Paul did on the Damascus road that we have been led astray by our own volition. Temptation preyed upon our weak propensities, and we chose the security of idleness and comfort over the immeasurable risk and reward of living for Christ. It is no different than how Proverbs describes a man who does not resist the adulteress' temptation, but suffers the consequences of submitting to an idol of his own making. "With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life" (Proverbs 7:21-23).
Keep in mind, the instruction to "love thy neighbor and hate thy enemy" is not a directive made in Scripture, but a misrepresentation of who God is and His will for our lives. David affirms, "For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man" (Psalm 5:4-6). It is sin and wickedness that kindles the Lord's anger toward those who vehemently oppose His sovereign authority and holiness; however, the righteous are spared not due to perfection, but the blood of Jesus. Nonetheless, "The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence" (Psalm 11:5). God provides opportunities to test the spiritual maturity of His children in order to sift our hearts and determine where our true allegiance lies. For it is easy to say we are Christians, but to what extent are we willing to obey the Bible's teachings? Are we theoretically in agreement with Matthew 5:43-48, but secretly harboring unrighteous anger and hate toward those who oppose our theology and beliefs? Scripture affirms the sun will rise and rain fall on BOTH the believer and unbeliever, so what difference does it make whether we choose to love or hate? Truth be told as Jesus conveys, even unbelievers are extended common grace in order to compel their hearts toward repentance, for "the LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made" (Psalm 145:8-9).
Identity is the key to unlocking our ability to embrace love and cast off hatred. Jesus said, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:9-12). Love is the great equalizer and differentiates Christianity from all other religions. The Bible states, "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19), and that is what inspired God to sacrifice His own Son on our behalf, despite the fact we were once His enemies. Let us not forget that God first demonstrated what it means to "love thy enemy" by choosing to love us despite our persistent wickedness. "Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life" (Romans 5:9-10). The Lord does not ask anything of us that He has not already modeled by His Word. Therefore, we are without excuse as we wrestle with the truth of Matthew 5:43-48 in our own hearts, and how we might emulate the example provided for us. How then does love compel us to action? By remembering who we once were apart from Christ, and how we are made new IN Christ.
We love our enemies by looking back into our past and recognizing how hostile we once were toward the throne of grace. For if God chose to save sinners by willingly offering grace through faith, how can we continue to live hardhearted toward our enemies? In essence, are we not requiring a price be paid for the grace we extend others, all the while receiving grace for ourselves free of charge from the Lord? May it never be! We must remember where we came from, for that is the only way we allow God to perfect our character and countenance as we live out the Gospel by loving our enemies. "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he (Jesus) has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven" (Colossians 1:21-23a). Keep in mind, not every enemy of ours will come to recognize the love of our Savior when we extend love, grace, mercy and forgiveness toward them, but that is not the point. We are called to "be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving (our)selves" (James 1:22), for that is what differentiates a false believer from one who has been humbled by the enormity of his/her sin and need of a Savior.
Therefore, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:31-32). Bottom-line: Loving our enemies is not a suggestion Scripture alludes to, but a command. There is no fine-print escape clause that makes obedience to Scripture non-binding, because the blood of Jesus shed on our behalf to fulfill what God's divine law demands, bought our salvation. "For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men" (1 Corinthians 7:22-23). When we accept the free gift of salvation paid in full by Jesus Himself, we are no longer slaves to our flesh or the world, but bond-servants to Christ. What this means is we are set free from the crushing weight of our sin, and released from the prison of our self-imposed, self-sufficiency; indebted to Christ for the price He paid for our ransom, to bring glory to His name by submitting to, obeying and applying what the Bible teaches. Therefore, we cannot continue to be consumed by hatred for our enemies, but compelled to lay down our pride and extend love by faith, so that our obedience to the Great Commission might win souls for Christ. "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends" (1 Corinthians 13:7-8a).
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