January 30, 2020

January 30
Running with Jesus! 2015

Luke 6: 27-30 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

     Well here is a bump on your run with Jesus! Love your enemies! At this time the Jews were under Roman rule and Jesus begins to teach them a new way of living, love! I loved the way the message put these verses they help bring the message into our up to date language. The text tells us to let them bring out the best in us not the worse. Sometimes I say we are bigger than this when I encounter a situation. Sometimes I say Father this is bigger than me. I'll then ask for strength to do opposite of what my mind tells me. 
     When we hate or despise our enemies a root of bitterness is planted deep into our hearts and affects every other area of our lives. 
     Running with Jesus will help you run upright in an upside down world. When Adam and Eve sinned, the world was turned upside down. Jesus by His sweet Spirit helps us turn it right side up. Man became self focused and has a retaliating nature. When we accept Christ we receive a new nature and it is a nature that loves those who do you wrong. I always think about Corrie Ten Boom, a Nazi prison camp survivor. A prison warden came to hear her speak and stood in line to shake her hand and she recognized him as the one who had abused her sister that led to her death. Corrie didn't want to raise her hand but as she yielded to the Holy Spirit her hand went up. The Spirit was the best in her and the best came out.
     Running with Jesus you and I will be challenged to reach a height of new responses. Satan wants you to react, Jesus wants us to respond. Our responses we find in the Word of God. We find a whole new way of living. Let's take a few minutes and right down some of the challenges you are faced with and then write down how you have been responding. No more tit-for-tat! Time to pray that “Lord Change Me” prayer.

Father, help us to change our attitude toward life. Help us learn to be filled and live out our lives in the Spirit. Let this challenge bring out the best in me and not the worst in me. We can do all things through your strength. Help us to love when unloved. 

Tomorrow:Judging

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015