Don’t Miss Out The Blessings That Can Come With Loving Your Enemies! …Hello Hump Day readers. My devotion for today is “what do we do with enemies?” And also, “what do enemies think of us?”

No doubt in this time that we wonder if anything will calm down and get back to normal…but don’t put your hat on that idea because normal is really NOT normal anymore. We live in a broken world but we have a mighty God who puts us back together.

I don’t know if you have read The Grace of Giving written by Dr. Stephen Olford. He was an American evangelical leader and Billy Graham called him “the man who most influenced my ministry.” In his book, he tells of a Baptist pastor during the American Revolution named Peter Miller who lived in Ephrata Pennsylvania. Here is their story about enemies and hope…

In the same town where Peter Miller lived, he encountered an evil-minded man who did all he could to oppose and humiliate the pastor whenever he had the chance. One day, this man was arrested for treason and sentenced to die. So, Peter Miller traveled seventy miles on foot to Philadelphia to plead for General George Washington to spare the life of the traitor.

The outcome from General Washington was: “No, Peter,” I cannot grant you the life of your friend.” Perplexed, Peter said to the General, exclaiming “My friend?” Heavens no, he’s the bitterest enemy I have!”

Then Washington cried out saying: “You’ve walked seventy miles to save the life of an enemy?” He thought about it and then said: “Well Peter, that puts the matter in a different light. So, I’ll grant your pardon.” On that day Peter Miller took his long-time enemy back home to Ephrata—but it wasn’t the same. You see, his enemy understood what was taking him down and now he has a friend, something he had never had! It changed his life.

“I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; YOU BE KIND.”  -Luke 6:35-36 The Message

What bothers you with enemies? Think about this: so often today, Christians miss out on the blessings that can come with loving their enemies. They don’t like this or that group of people because their behavior is sinful, so they treat them as outcasts. But what if instead of condemning them, we showed them who God is by loving them despite their actions?

Remember this: God loved us when we were his enemies. Some people don’t like that saying yet, we have all been enemies in many ways. So, what do we do? From Lukes word, WE BE KIND! We need to do our best for others so they can drop their enemy cloak and embrace how God will change them through you, me and so many more!

In closing, take a moment to pray to God for help. Ask God to help you learn and use the gifts God has you to transform your heart so you can transform others hearts. That’s when we see the kind of God we serve and the JOY of the LORD that gives us the power to share that with others, AMEN.