Your Identity in Christ
In Christ I am a child of my Heavenly Father and will
display evidence of that by loving my enemies and
praying for those who persecute me.
Pondering Point
I heard an excellent description of what God gave Moses on Mount Sinai: The Ten Commandments were referred to as ten agreements. This gets to the principles behind the Ten Commandments, looking at them as something one agrees to do as a follower of God. That was the deal with the original people of God through Moses. Bring that mindset into our setting and our theme for the week of loving our enemies. We are agreeing as his children to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us because that's what God himself does and would have us do. Basically strip it all down and here it is: God, I agree to live in the way you call for me to live and love the way you call for me to love (See John 15:12).
John 15:12
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Prayer
Father God, when I have a difficult time loving others, would You strengthen my resolve and deepen my love, especially for those not being loving toward me. I know You're the source of all love and that You love me despite my sin, giving Your Son to die for me. Help me to live like a saint -- to live out my sainthood, my child-of-God qualities rather than my original sin nature self. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 51:7-12
- Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. - Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice. - Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me
Read the versus of the Psalm.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.
Teaching or Command of God
Ezekiel 18:31
Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.
The Promise
Isaiah 43:25
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”
Pondering Point
Which image captures you more:
Getting a new heart and a new spirit, or
God remembering your sins no more? Why is that?