Enemies are something each of us has to deal with in this life, and they can try us in every possible way. However, as Children of God, we have to represent Jesus by treating our enemies in these five Godly ways…
• Treat them with love — Our enemies are people that spread lies about us, stab us in the back and hate us. In spite of this, Jesus told us to love our enemies and treat them well regardless of how they treat us. By doing this, it will show that He is Lord of our lives. “But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) KJV
• Treat them good and not with evil — When our enemies wrong us in some way, our natural human response is to repay evil with some more evil, or take matters in our own hands. As the saying goes, “two wrongs don’t make a right.” So instead of us treating our enemies with evil, treat them with good. “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”(Romans 12:21) KJV
• Treat them with kindness -— The best way for us to experience kindness is to extend it. Whereas we can’t have certain people we treat with kindness, we have to show kindness to everyone, especially our enemies. “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink.” (Proverbs 25:21) KJV
• Treat them the way we want to be treated — There will be times when we have to deal with being mistreated by others. No matter how people mistreat us, we still have to treat them the way we want to be treated. “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12) NKJV
• Treat them in the way of a peacemaker -— Some people are nothing but troublemakers. They constantly find ways to stir up trouble against us. Nevertheless, we don’t have to treat them the way they treat us. All we have to do is please the Lord in everything and He will give us peace with our enemies. “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (Proverbs 16:7) KJV
So be encouraged today and always remember: When we treat our enemies in these ways, “you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” (Proverbs 25:22) NIV
Minister Sherry Ivy is a Minister of the New Providence M. B. Church (Healing & Yoke Destroying Ministry) in Macon Mississippi, under the leadership of her husband, Pastor Willie J. Ivy Sr. you can contact her via email at [email protected]
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