Evening Y'all! I pray this post encourages you and gives God glory! Got suggested topics you want me to write about? Please comment below or email me at info@mocatoday.com.
A few weeks ago, we reviewed six increases you may experience when you choose to love your enemies. Then, we reviewed three things enemies may experience when they are loved. Today, let's wrap up this three-part series by reviewing what loving an enemy is not.
From a biblical perspective—
An enemy [or exthrós in Greek] is "someone openly hostile or actively hostile, hating, and opposing another to inflict harm".
Loving an enemy means "to unselfishly seek the best or higher good for an enemy and pray for them that persecute you" (Matthew 5:44).
Unlike the world, Jesus commands we love our neighbors and our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48).
If Jesus commands we love our enemies, then doing so is obedient and pleasing to God.
However, does loving an enemy mean it's ok to have unhealthy boundaries with them?
Does loving an enemy mean it's ok to become their "doormat"?
Absolutely not!
Gotquestions.org shares three ways to avoid becoming a "doormat":
A Christian can avoid being a doormat by first understanding his or her true worth. Every human being is created in the image of God, to reflect His glory and beauty in unique ways (Genesis 1:27, 1 Corinthians 10:31). Superficial factors have no bearing on one’s value. If God does not count our inferior qualities against us, then we shouldn’t either (Romans 8:31). Understanding that God has pronounced us righteous because of Jesus’s death and resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:21) should empower us to live in the freedom that brings. We are no one’s doormat; we are sons and daughters of the Most High God (Philippians 2:14–15, Ephesians 5:1).
When a Christian practices being "crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20), the focus shifts from self to the Lord. Jesus, the true Servant of All, was not a doormat. He served freely but never allowed people to take from Him what He was not ready to give. At one point, crowds tried to throw Him over a cliff (Luke 4:29). Another time, they wanted to make Him king (John 6:15). Because neither was God’s plan for Him, Jesus merely slipped away. He refused to be their doormat.
Christians can seek wise counsel about boundary-setting. The Bible is a book of boundaries and consequences. Healthy boundaries make for healthy relationships. The word no is powerful. We need to learn that enabling the sins or irresponsibility of others is not loving; it is self-indulgent. Selfish fear, rooted in a desire for others to love, appreciate, or need us, propels us to rescue those who should experience their own consequences. Wise boundaries free others to reap the consequences they have earned and, hopefully, to learn from those consequences. When asked to violate a boundary, an otherwise submissive person can be empowered to take a right stand with a polite "no." God loves us, but He is not afraid to say "no" when He needs to. Doormats are generally people who are afraid to say "no" when they need to. Recognizing why we are afraid can be a big step in overcoming that handicap.
It's also important to note that we're called to take care of and protect our vessel [body, soul, and spirit].
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. ~Proverbs 4:23-27 (NIV)
Why?
Because that's where the Holy Spirit dwells!
I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. ~Ezekiel 36:27 (NKJV)
Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? ~1 Corinthians 3:16 (CSB)
Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body. ~1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (CSB)
Therefore, if we allow our vessel to keep close ties to people, places, and things that are openly hostile or opposed to the things of God, we may find ourselves stumbled from being able to become more Christlike or hindered from being able to grow a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Engaging, committing, or enabling habitual sin, unhealthy behavior in our lives, or toxic relationships with abuse of any kind (e.g., physical, emotional, financial, spiritual) can also weaken our vessel and make it unsuitable for the Holy Spirit to dwell.
Such a "sickly" or weakened state can cause it to be extremely challenging to keep God the first priority, walk by the Holy Spirit, and do what God has called you to do.
The above matters because nothing, "no thing" should come before God (Deuteronomy 4)!
Remember the first commandment?
You shall have no other gods before Me. ~Exodus 20:3 (NKJV)
Or, Jesus's commands?
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ~Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. ~Matthew 10:38-39 (NKJV)
Given above— Yes, we are called to love our enemies because Jesus said so. But, loving them does not mean we maintain unhealthy boundaries with them nor enable them to make us their doormat.
Your thoughts? I'd love to hear from you!
Remember, it's about progression not perfection!
God loves you! With Him, you got this! Until next post, may God give you His peace and blessings!
~Natasha
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