CWW WEEK 25 - Day 2 - Come And Reason
|
CWW WEEK 25 DAY 2 COME AND REASON
1. Matthew 5:44 (NIV)
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you.”
This is one of Jesus’ teachings on how to respond to those who
may mistreat or oppose you, showing love instead of retaliation.
As the years roll quickly by, it’s hard not to notice a society in
decline. I could list a thousand ways to illustrate this but you
already know without me pointing it out.
Have you noticed how easily triggered people have become, The
slightest offence often not meant, brings forth an all guns blazing
response as people put two and two together and come up with
nine.
We live in a society that has become perpetually offended and
social media provides a platform for unbridled retaliation.
Such an event played out in my life recently when someone of
influence made a miscalculation about me and decided to go
public with his opinion.
It shocked me a bit because I thought we were in the same trench.
After a few days I made contact with him and we had a post
incident debrief. I calmly listened to his offence and then pointed
out how he had gotten his assumptions all wrong.
I could see that he is a good man carrying too heavy a burden for
him to deal with. I ended up inviting he and his partner to come
stay with us for a few days rest.
I think he was stunned that I would even ask and I reiterated that
we are all under pressure and we need to stop fighting and just
rest. We need to come and reason.
This happened because I prayed to God to guide my thoughts
about him to a place that took away the sting in our situation.
God made it plain that all I had to do was love this man. Was he
really my enemy?CWW WEEK 25 DAY 2 COME AND REASON
God showed me that I needed to surrender my pride and my own
personal offence and just reach out to those who attack me.
Why should we not when we recall what Jesus said from the cross
in Luke 23:34 “And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know
not what they do.”
Why is it when we feel afraid and under attack that we revert to
unreasonable assumptions when a cold sower approach brings
victory to all involved?
Perhaps we need to take God more seriously and ourselves less
so.
The word reason is an invitation to conversation. Let’s see what
the scriptures say about this. Look at Isaiah 1:18:
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins
are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red
like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
This refers to an invitation that God extends to us. But if we are
created in His image and we understand that in life we need to
strive for His character then clearly we are called to do the same
are we not?
Some will mock these words and tell us that loving your enemy is a
sign of weakness. That when you do this you will be taken
advantage of and used.
I have realised that my greatest strength lies in my vulnerability. It
takes courage to admit to your own human frailties and be truly
honest about yourself; about who you are.
Once again we turn to scripture for the answer.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV):
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is
made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly
of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults,CWW WEEK 25 DAY 2 COME AND REASON
hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I
am strong.”
As we piece all this together we can start to accept that loving your
enemy is the best way to destroy conflict and return to reason and
conversation.
Imagine a world where insecurity was done away with and
conversation replaced conflict.
Such a world awaits us for eternity but we must prepare for it by
starting that work in us yesterday.
I think its half past time that we all came to reason.
Questions.
1. Are you confronted with some conflict in your life today?
2. Is it possible that your enemy might actually be a friend in need
of reason?
3. Are you ready to give and receive reason and end conflict?
Prayer.
Dear Lord, Papa God.
Please help us to seek reason and thus find the way to love those
who attack us. Help us to see strength in weakness when we
surrender to Your will in our lives. Give us the faith to stand in Your
strength as we confront sin and evil head on. This can only happen
if we seek a heart of flesh that remains tender but with the resolve
of a strong and invincible faith. We need You Papa to steer our
course to home in such a way. Please Lord fill us afresh with Your
Holy Spirit is our prayer in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
Have a great day today with Jesus.
Graham Hood.
