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We have to learn to love others no matter who they are. Jesus tells us " But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil." Luke 6:35
Can we love our enemies even those we may not get along with?
Jesus says that God is "kind unto the unthankful and to the evil."
Jesus is our ultimate example and as a Christian we must allow Him to lead our lives, our thoughts and our actions.
A way that we can approach a person we may have a hard time getting along with is to think about this scripture and how would Jesus treat this individual.
Another thing to ponder which will help us in our dealings with others that we may conflict with is to understand that this individual has a soul that needs Jesus.
Jesus tells us, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16
Before we became a christian we may have had hatred in our hearts and when a person gets saved they have to relearn things and put in practise how to change our lives and our attitudes.
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Matthew 11:29
We have a tendency as human beings to "strike back" when someone approaches us in a wrong manner. The tongue can be a fire (James 3:6) so we must be on guard with our reactions. Remember that Proverbs 15:1 says, "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
Praying for our enemies or those we may conflict with can help us carry a sincere burden for that person. This will remind us that we must be careful in how we act in order to see them get saved.
We must exercise ourselves unto godliness.
"But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness." 1 Timothy 4:7
Sometimes the best thing is to not say anything so we are not biting and devouring one another.
"But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another." Galations 5:15
Only God can make loving others easier that we don't get along with.
Maybe if we take time to figure out something that individual we don't get along with is interested in, that may establish a connection somehow.
Also if we pray and establish positive thoughts about the person we don't get along with can help us be a good testimony as well.
Below are some ways that we can make sure we are prepared to love our enemies and those we may not get along with:
1. We need to have the love of God in our hearts.
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:7-12
2. We must have His Spirit in order to love:
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 1 John 4:13
3. We must dwell or abide in love
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16
4. We must love our brother
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. 1 John 4:21
Notice it in the beginning of the of 1 John 4 John starts out by saying:
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 1 John 4:1-6
If someone has the Spirit of God in their heart they will have the love of God flow out of their mouth and lives. But John exhorts us to try the spirit and understand that some don't have the spirit of truth ( The Spirit which comes from God and teaches truth)
but they are living in error (the spirit which comes from Satan and seduces into error).
The error in the life causes an imbalance and even makes it hard for others to get along with at times.This may never change and even though this is the case, we must continue to live godly and not feed into a bitter spirit. By recognizing the spirit we will be better prepared to understand the spirit behind the motive and not give in to a spirit that is not dwelling in the love of God. There will be times that we may find ourselves struggling to love but if we understand the reasoning behind the spirit we will be better prepared to meet the challenge.
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