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Loving our Enemies (and Friends)
2 Kings 8:11-12
“He stared at him with a fixed gaze until Hazael felt ashamed. Then the man of God began to weep. ‘Why is my lord weeping?’ asked Hazael. ‘Because I know the harm you will do to the Israelites,’ he answered…”
The Israelites were prostituting themselves to the Baal fertility idols and cult, and they were still led by Jezebel who had much innocent blood on her hands. The Israelite leaders had tried to kill Elisha, yet when Elisha saw their destruction, he wept for them. Elisha wept for Israel and its leadership because he loved them.
Do we love those with whom we are sharing the gospel?
Do we love the Church even if it is the Church that has persecuted us?
Do we love those who have undermined our ministry and tried to harm our reputation?
Would we weep for them if we knew that judgment awaited them?
Without love, we are just a ‘resounding gong or a clanging cymbal’. Prophetic gifts must be exercised with great love; without love, they become self-serving and distorted.
Lord Jesus, I repent for not loving deeply as you did. Fill me with your love for those I am serving, for your glory.
2 Kings 8:11-12
“He stared at him with a fixed gaze until Hazael felt ashamed. Then the man of God began to weep. ‘Why is my lord weeping?’ asked Hazael. ‘Because I know the harm you will do to the Israelites,’ he answered…”
The Israelites were prostituting themselves to the Baal fertility idols and cult, and they were still led by Jezebel who had much innocent blood on her hands. The Israelite leaders had tried to kill Elisha, yet when Elisha saw their destruction, he wept for them. Elisha wept for Israel and its leadership because he loved them.
Do we love those with whom we are sharing the gospel?
Do we love the Church even if it is the Church that has persecuted us?
Do we love those who have undermined our ministry and tried to harm our reputation?
Would we weep for them if we knew that judgment awaited them?
Without love, we are just a ‘resounding gong or a clanging cymbal’. Prophetic gifts must be exercised with great love; without love, they become self-serving and distorted.
Lord Jesus, I repent for not loving deeply as you did. Fill me with your love for those I am serving, for your glory.
About this Plan
Join Randy Friesen as he follows the Bible reading plan of the Life Journal and shares his reflections with you. Each entry includes three parts: a highlighted passage from the reading, a brief reflection, and a prayer. We trust that you will be inspired by the messages that God is speaking through his Word.
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