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DAILY DEVOTIONAL
July 12
Matthew 5:43-44 New International Version (NIV)
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
How should you react when someone treats you unfairly? I know how you want to treat them. I have the same automatic, fleshly reaction. I want to get even. I want to get back at them. But that is not how we should treat people. God has commanded us to walk in love.
Why should we walk in love? What's in it for us if we do, or what harm will it do if we do not walk in love?
Galatians 6:7-9 New International Version (NIV)
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
We need to be very careful how we react to unfair treatment. If we do the right thing, we will reap blessings. If we do the fleshly thing, we will reap destruction.
Let's take a look at the Greek word used for "destruction" in this verse.
2 Peter 2:12 New King James Version (NKJV)
12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,
The same Greek word - phthora - appears twice in this verse, "destroyed" and "corruption". When you sow to the flesh, you open the door for Satan to steal, kill, and destroy. Galatians 6:7 says, "Do not be deceived". A lot of Christians deceive themselves into thinking that they can live any way they would like, and that God will still bless them. Unfortunately, God cannot bless them. In doing so, God would be mocked. You see, if you sow to the flesh and reap blessing, then God has been mocked. Now, this also works the other way as well. If you do what is right, then you will reap blessings. Otherwise, God would be mocked. Sow to the Spirit, and you will reap eternal life.
Speak the Word: Father, I sow to the spirit. I walk in love even with my enemy. I walk in love with my family.
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