Faith Family Football Challenge #2Sample

READ: MAT.5.43-48

Love for Enemies

There are a few things I am sure most of us can relate to from experience; when we’re wronged without cause!  Ugh!  I was driving with my family to church one Sunday and on the way, this guy in a Porsche must’ve thought I was going too slow or something.  He’s honking and making a fuss, tailgating us and all.  Suddenly he zips past me, cuts in front of me where I was about to make a left turn across traffic, almost hitting a bunch of other drivers too, then of course, opens his window extending his arm out the window and flips us the bird. I was dumbfounded and really angry, but glad that no one was hurt - at least on my side.  We then proceeded to follow him right into our church parking lot where we were both going to attend the service that morning!  Ironically, that day our pastor told a story about him being in traffic and on the phone leaving someone a message when he got cut off.  He proceeded to curse the people out, forgetting that he was still being recorded by the voice mail!  Imagine the people’s reaction when they heard THAT message… from their pastor no less!  I’ve talked with lots of folks that feel they have been “taken advantage of” in business with someone that they trusted greatly or considered a friend - usually claiming to be a “Christian.”  

The point is, whether it’s road rage or a business deal gone bad, it’s really, really hard to reconcile the situation.  Some people might justify using today’s reading and telling you that because of what Jesus did for us that you should “stuff” your feelings and move on.  I’ve got news for you - these wrongs hurt - deeply - and are literally impossible to get over by yourself. I don’t find anywhere in the bible where God tells you to just “get over it!” Whether we’re the ones being wronged or the ones wronging others, we CAN’T just get over it!  We need God to hold it all for us and we need to trust Him to get us through it all. He is asking us to trust Him with absolutely everything in our lives, the good, the bad and the ugly - completely.  If you need to scream and yell at Him, cry until you don’t have any more tears, beat a pillow until you’re exhausted - It’s okay. Trust me, He can take it.  You cannot forgive someone until you admit to yourself that you’ve been sinned against. And your forgiving this person may be just for your benefit only.  The other person may never own up to their side of things. But it is important that you take these to God and understand that He can and will deal with every circumstance in your life… if you let Him. 

Imagine it this way: Take a bunch of napkins and scrunch each one up into a ball and hold them tightly in your closed hands. God can’t take them out because you’re holding onto them with your hands closed. Now open your hands and imagine God taking them away, clearing that burden from your grasp. AND, even better, he puts something else back into your hands that you may or may not have been expecting!  So keeping ourselves “open” to God allows him to take away the pain and give us the things we need to serve him.  And like today’s reading says, we’re supposed to pray for our enemies - the people that are wronging us.  Remember: F.A.M.I.L.Y.® = Forget about me, I love you!  No matter what!  

ASK God to show up, to join you in your time with Him today.

READ: 2COR.5.16-19

WRITE:  Write down those circumstances and people that have hurt you.  Be honest here! Get this stuff out there so you can present it to God with open hands and an open heart.  God wants to heal you of these tremendous hurts in your life.  And believe it or not, He can take anything you have and turn it to good for His work in you. 

MEDITATE:  Pray for your enemies - those that have wronged you -  and let that burden be God’s to worry about. Pray to forgive them and truly trust God with these situations. 

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