Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Enemy Puzzle by, Dawna

I have made a discovery: people who earnestly seek Gods word really enjoy reading the Bible. They are all smiles and very encouraged, that is until they come to Mathew 5:43-44 (The love your enemy’s verse). I think very few of us read that and say... “Piece of cake, you can count on me God!” At first I read it at least three times waiting for it to sink in and my spirit to take over with happiness and thanksgiving….it never came!

I prayed for conviction and revelation. What he gave me was a piece to a puzzle... 

Never take your own vengeance, beloved, 
but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 
"Vengeance is Mine, I will repay says the Lord." 
Romans 12:19

There in the stillness a vision I am familiar with came to mind; a long line of hungry kids; a lunch line that always seemed to have a kid that tried to cut in line. Ah, I see the Lord is kindly asking to be first in line, and who wouldn’t let God go first? 

Ok God, I can do that. In fact, I want to do that, but how do I do that when I come face to face with my enemy? The solution was the final piece of the puzzle. Romans 12:20 tells us to feed our enemy if he is hungry and give him a drink if he is thirsty. 

Ok Lord, so if I’m getting this right, you want me to love, feed and give drink to this person that is perhaps rude, arrogant, selfish, prideful, dishonest, rebellious, etc... after a few minutes of silence the pieces to the “Love your Enemy Puzzle” came together.

It is quite simple really… He is asking us to baby-sit.

Maybe I need to elaborate … we are to watch over His children, He is asking that we love them, feed them, give them drink and if they act up, He will punish them when He picks them up. That got me to thinking about my “enemies” and I suddenly wanted to warn them, help them before dad comes and they are in deep trouble!

I have put this in practice and let me say that babysitting for God pays very well, no veins popping out, no heart palpitations, it feels much better knowing I just obeyed God, and gave Him what is rightfully His... The judgment seat. 

Oh, one more thing if it makes you feel better... Romans 20:20 says by doing these things... feeding, giving drink (being nice) to them you will heap burning coals on their head! They really hate it when you are nice to them, just saying :)


11 comments:

  1. Great post! Never thought of it as baby sitting. I like that. :)

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  2. Very good! People who really do seek the Lord loves reading His word

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  3. Love it, Dawna!! The best revenge is to love them. :) Great post!

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  4. GREAT post! Some are tougher to "baby-sit" than others, but it makes the job a littler easier knowing the Lord will come and "pick them up" and take over :)
    Thank you for sharing this!

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  5. It's true, we're called to love the unlovely... hard as that is I sleep better knowing I responded in a kind and godly way than in a hurtful way. Great post :)

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  6. Love this one!! He will punish them when He picks them up!

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  7. Yeah...but it's not as easy as it sounds. LOL.

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  8. I have thought about this concept much lately...

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  9. What a wonderful analogy Dawna! I never thought about it that way... :-)

    Have a Blessed Day!

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  10. Great post Dawna! You are right, we need to play "nice" and leave the rest up to God. Great verse!! Love seeing you grow in Christ through your writing!!:)

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