LOVING ENEMIES

Read 2 Kings 6:8-23.

Can we be more concerned with winning souls than winning arguments?

Syrian raiders invaded Israel. The power of God, however, blinded them, and Elisha the prophet leads them to Samaria, where inside the city walls, their vision is restored, and they are surrounded by Israeli forces. The King of Israel sees the opportunity for revenge. That is the natural reaction. But, instead, Elisha extends mercy and grace.

Think about it. The Syrian soldiers were merely submitting to their sovereign. They were blinded. The spiritual man overcomes evil with good. He conquers with love. Those on the winning side reach out to the losing side, realizing they are just following Satan’s orders. They are blind to the truth and we need to pray that their eyes would be opened.

We can win people by love. That’s the way our hearts were won. Who is our war with anyway? Not with sinners.  “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6:12).

The Syrian soldiers were given mercy and grace. It was mercy that spared them from the death they deserved, and it was grace that gave them what they did not merit—a feast and freedom!  God has done that for us!  Now, He expects us to show mercy and grace to other sinners.

We must be careful that in our stand for God and for truth, that it doesn’t sound like an attack on the people Jesus died for. Can we speak against the act of homosexuality and witness to the homosexual? Can we cry against the act of abortion and reach out to the abortionist and those who have had abortions? Can we find the balance of Jesus who told the adulterous woman, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more?”  That balance is seen in that Jesus was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,” (Heb.7:26), and yet was called the “friend of...sinners” (Lk.7:34).

We must never compromise Biblical convictions. Yet, this same Bible contains these words:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matt.5:38-48).