Good Morning! I'm your host Lonnie Wibberding, and you are listening to God Notes. A daily devotional podcast sent out from sunny Southern California.
Today is Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
Some of the most profound teaching in the Bible is in Matthew 5, 6, and 7. It's called The Sermon on the Mount. It is so profound because it is Jesus sitting down with the crowds and explaining what true religion looks like. It is very practical advice, and challenges those who may just want to be religious to look good or quench a guilty conscience. Jesus cuts to the heart of the matter, and explains how religion should actually change you into a better person so you and I can live better lives.
The text today is part of this sermon of Jesus.
Matthew 5:43-48 says:
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and theunrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Not fun advice. It's much easier to hate those who mess up our lives. How in the world do we love those who hate us?
There is only one way.
By realizing how good God has been to us. It is only by understanding the gracious heart of God can we extend grace and kindness to our enemies.
When we can do that, it leaves us free of enemy hooks inside us. Because what they do doesn't have to affect us. There's nothing we are holding onto that our enemies can get us on -- because we've forgiven.
Which is really a miracle. It's the work of the Holy Spirit on our hearts. We can't do it, but God can. We just have to ask God to change our hearts and let go of the resentment.
And sometimes it comes back, and we have to ask again. But God will do this. He will change our hearts and cleanse the hate.
It's a much better life too. God really wants the best for us.
May God Bless your day. We'll talk again tomorrow.