Discipleship Point

Matthew 5:43-48

Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

This week’s discipleship point is about learning to be healthy amid unhealthy environments, and close cousins to that, learning to stay healthy amid potentially unhealthy people. Unhealthy disciples produce unhealthy fruit. Healthy disciples produce healthy fruit.

Hear encouragement to stay healthy in these words from God: “Forgive as your Father has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32) and “man's anger does not bring about the righteousness of God” (James 1:20) and “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” (Luke 6:27). Every relationship we have is somewhere in the healthy to unhealthy spectrum, ranging from awesome to abusive.
For our part, we look to bring healthy mindsets, attitudes, habits, and coping skills. Along with that, let’s makes sure that “no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble” (Hebrews 12:15) while God is seeking to use us to love the world.

Discipleship Prayer

Father God, I pray that You would have Your Holy Spirit strengthen me and direct me that I might be empowered to emulate the actions of Your son, my Lord Jesus and His example. I want to be able to love my enemies, I want to be able to get past my anger, handle other’s anger well, and be able to let go of bitterness so that it does not take root in my heart. I know that I cannot do this in my own strength, so I pray for Your Spirit’s help knowing that He helped Jesus and strengthen Him as well. I pray this in Jesus’ name. 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.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Teaching or Command of God:

Romans 6:13

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

Psalm 147:6

The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.

Prayer Prompt

Father God, grant me a willing spirit that I might offer every part of myself to You as an instrument of righteousness, my:

mind heart voice attitude strength

imagination humor skills education

spirit energy sexuality experience memory

my sense of: touch taste smell sight hearing