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Day 352 Promise 431 Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them who curse you, do good to them who hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them who love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. When people are mean and hateful to you, you want to bring vengeance against them, treat them the same way they treated you. When you do you turn the golden rule inside out, doing to others as they do to you instead of treating others the way you want to be treated. In so doing, you are no better than the person who wronged you. Jesus told the people God sent rain on everyone’s fields. The sun shone on everyone. Everyone alike received God’s blessings. As Christians, you need to refrain from vengeance. It isn’t okay to treat unbelievers worse than believers. It isn’t okay to only forgive your friends and acquaintances you know are Christians and show unforgiveness to everyone else. You want to tell yourself your situation is different. It’s not. Don’t delude yourself. When you treat everyone the same, forgiving unconditionally those who wronged you, then you put on the mantle of the Lord Jesus Christ who forgave His enemies from the cross. Love spoke from the cross when Jesus said, Father forgive them for they know not what they do. When you have the same attitude to everyone who comes against you, then God will reward you with peace that passes all understanding. Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (KJV) Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Has someone treated you with hate and malice? Forgive. Put that person in God’s hands and watch Him turn hate into love. Let’s pray: Father, help me love those who are mean and hateful. Let me show them your love. Bring Your peace into my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 24 July 2020 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay.