How we treat others should always be a decision, not a reaction. Our fight is not with them, but for them. We fight the hold that evil has on their heart. The motive is their reconciliation with God, not the fleeting taste of satisfaction revenge offers.
Who are the people in your life that you feel are your enemies? It may be someone you have a personal conflict with. It could be a person or group that stands in opposition to Christianity. How do you feel toward them? What do you want to do to them?
“And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?’ But He turned and rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them’” (Lk. 9:52b-56). Do you want to defeat your enemies or save them?
Solomon tells us, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles” (Pr. 24:17). There is nothing good about seeing someone stumble over sin, even if they are coming toward you to do you harm.
Jesus taught, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Mt. 5:43, 44). How we treat others should always be a decision, not a reaction. Our fight is not with them, but for them. We fight the hold that evil has on their heart. The motive is their reconciliation with God, not the fleeting taste of satisfaction revenge offers.
By inspiration, Paul exhorts us, “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:17-21 ESV). We may not succeed at making an enemy into a friend. But, it is certain that the only way it will ever happen is if we overcome the sin in the relationship with righteousness. Then we may gain not only a friend, but a brother.
A Christian life does not consist of setting fires, fueling flames (like we’re carrying around a leaky gas can), and doing harm; it consists of choosing peace, snuffing out the flames of conflict with righteousness and truth, and applying the healing powers of Christ’s blood. “When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Pr. 16:7). The world will always offer wars and rumors of wars, but, one person at a time, we can win the wars in the hearts of men, by overcoming evil with good.
This is definitely not easy. In Ephesians 6, Paul calls it warfare. We are depicted as soldiers of Christ (2 Tim. 2:3, 4). But, look at this kind of soldier’s equipment (armor): “belt of truth” (vs. 14), “breastplate of righteousness” (vs. 14), “the gospel of peace” (vs. 15), “shield of faith” (vs. 16), “helmet of salvation” (vs. 17), “word of God” (vs. 17). And you might say that “prayer and supplication” (vs. 18) are a kind of ammunition.
When a spiritual soldier is equipped with all of these things, what harm can he do to his physical enemies? NONE. Our fight is a spiritual fight. We prepare, so that we can stand against the Devil (vs. 11) and quench his fire (vs. 16). We do not fight against men, even if they fight us. We fight FOR them, against the Devil, as they have merely been taken captive to do his will (2 Tim. 2:26). When we put on the full armor of God, we are not equipped to slay and stand atop our defeated enemies, but to rescue them from the fire of Hell. As a firefighter is equipped only to protect himself and save others from the flames, a Christian does not equip to harm, but to rescue (Jms. 5:20).
Whenever sin wedges itself between two people, they become enemies (Isa. 59:1, 2). What will happen if you confront your enemies with truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God, while praying for their soul? Will you attack them or the sin in the relationship? When a fireman crashes through a burning door to find someone, that person doesn’t question for a second whether or not the fireman is there to rescue them. When you arrive on the scene, is it obvious you’re there to help or to harm? Do you seek to defeat or to rescue?
-Cary Gillis D.Min. February 7, 2021
Fight For Your Enemies
