Many Bible teachings do not come naturally to us.
Love your enemies.
Pray for those who persecute you.
Rejoice always.
Forgive as the Lord forgives you.
Do not judge.
If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink.
Today’s text is in the same category as those commands.
It is Proverbs 24:17.
“Do not gloat when your enemy falls.
When they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice.”
For emphasis, let me read it again.
“Do not gloat when your enemy falls.
When they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice.”
That’s hard because sometimes that buzzard had it coming and I’m glad he got his payback.
When Bill Clinton was president, many Christians were troubled with his behavior in the White House. Jokes were flying all over the place. I stood in the pulpit and challenged the people not to rejoice in his failure, but rather pray for him. I admit to you that was hard. We do not rejoice at the evil that anyone does, but neither do we rejoice when hard things fall upon them.
We read all of those hard commands and wonder if we could ever do it. The answer is yes. If you think not, then ponder this question, “Do you believe that God ever commands us to do anything that we are not able to do?” The answer is no.
What God calls you to do, he enables you to do. If you fall, rise and try again. He will meet you in your effort.
I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.
This really helped me today.
I offended a woman a year ago and I went to her and apologized.
A long time later I was talking to her and she was very mean to me. She said she didn’t want me talking to her and she didn’t like me and never has.
I responded emotionally.
Lately I thought God was telling me that I needed to say I was sorry, but when I tried to approach her, she wouldn’t let me within ten feet of her and told me that she didn’t want to talk to me.
Broke my heart but I decided that it was satan who was setting me up to be upset, and I need to pray for her. I have forgiven her but breaks my heart that she holds hatred and resentment toward me, so for her sake, I pray that God softens her heart and she is able to let it go.
Yes what God calls us to do is hard but He gives us grace to do it. Thank you.