February 3, 2023

It is true that we are living in a divided country...left-right...Democrat-Republican...prolife-pro death...liberal-conservative...socialist-capitalist...expansive government-individual liberty.  We are confronted with these divisions every time we turn on a news channel.  Here’s a warning to all Christians:  do not make your mission field your enemy.  By that I mean, there is a tendency in all of us to allow opposition to our biblical standards as a reason to hate or disregard those who reject those standards.  Those who reject God and the Bible are the very ones we are to take the gospel to...they are our mission field.  Jesus makes sure we understand that:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor (fellow man) and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven  (Matthew 5:43 amp)

Chambers addresses this issue in today’s My Utmost for His Highest:

A true servant of Jesus Christ is one who is willing to experience martyrdom for the reality of the gospel of God. When a moral person is confronted with contempt, immorality, disloyalty, or dishonesty, he is so repulsed by the offense that he turns away and in despair closes his heart to the offender. But the miracle of the redemptive reality of God is that the worst and the vilest offender can never exhaust the depths of His love. Paul did not say that God separated him to show what a wonderful man He could make of him, but “to reveal His Son in me…” (Galatians 1:16).

Obviously, this is not a natural response.  Love (agape) never is.  It is actually a supernatural response to one who offends us, but it is one of those clear manifestations that one has been regenerated and is being led by the Spirit of God.  Even the most despicable reprobate is loved by God to the degree that He sent His Son to die for that reprobate.  The “reprobate” is not our enemy, he is our mission field.  He needs to hear the gospel.  Our job is to communicate that gospel even if he is on the other side of the “divide.”  My prayer for you and me this morning is this:  Lord, You know how easy it is for us to justify our biblical standards as reasons for hate.  We know this is not Your will.  Judgment is Yours.  The proclamation of the gospel to all who will hear is our responsibility.  May the love of God be seen in our response to those who disregard God and may hate us.  We know You save the most vile of sinners because You saved us.  Amen.

When we are tempted to think someone is beyond coming to Christ, let this familiar stanza remind us:

Amazing grace.  How sweet the sound.  That saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost, but now am found.  I was blind, but now I see.

Walk with the King today and be a blessing.