Devo for 07/20/2025 service- Message by Pastor Clint Sprague
Week 23 of the series “The Way That Leads to Life” brings us to the last verses of Matthew Chapter 5. The key point to this verse is that we are called to not only love our neighbors, but our enemies as well.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your the Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Matthew 5:43-47
In this message Pastor Clint posed this question to us, “Who is our enemy?”
He went on to give examples of those that would fit this category, our enemy. The word enemy in this verse is described as:
“Enemy” #2190
hated, odious, hateful.
hostile, hating, and opposing another.
Although we do not like the meaning of each of those descriptive words, we need to look inside ourselves and see if we think and feel these towards another. If so, they would be our enemy based on the context of this verse. I know I do not need to tell you how harmful and detrimental harboring these feelings is to our lives and to the lives of those around us.
This brings me back to Pastor Clint's question above. I would encourage all of us to take some time, slow down, and get into the presence of God, then ask Him to show us people in our lives that fit the category of being an enemy. The second step is to let God walk you through healing and change your mind on these people!
Pastor Clint spoke of forgiveness and praying for those you are treating as an enemy. With that, I felt it important lay out a way to walk throught he process of changing your heart towards those you may oppose, and to walk through the healing process so you can love your enemies to the delight of our Father!
1-Ask God to show you those you treat as an enemy and let Him show you why you chose to respond that way.
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139:23-24
2-Ask God to be able to see good in the person.
Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. Psalm 119:18
3-Pray a blessing over them.
and never return evil for evil or insult for insult [avoid scolding, berating, and any kind of abuse], but on the contrary, give a blessing [pray for one another’s well-being, contentment, and protection]; for you have been called for this very purpose, that you might inherit a blessing [from God that brings well-being, happiness, and protection]. 1 Peter 3:9 (AMP)
4-Forgive the person, release them into God’s hands.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31,32
5-Get with a brother in Christ and confess to him, then let him pray for you to be healed!
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16
Men, don’t discount doing this! It will put you on a path to healing, joy, and peace! As you do this, and turn more of these over to God, it will be easier and easier to feel empathy, compassion, and love for God’s children that you used to consider an enemy!
Don’t forget to invite God into your day!
Topic for Study
Loneliness
Psalm 23:4
John 14:18
Joshua 1:9
July Memory Verse:
Ephesians 5:21
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ”