"If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the Lord will reward you."
Do you have any enemies? Is anyone threatening you or your family, religion or country? The One Truth Today tells you what to do to those considered your enemies! The man of flesh has a different answer than the Word of God. With the world it is "tit for tat", and many throw in the fact that they will do even greater retaliation to their enemy. Men have been retaliating and have increased or escalated the problems since time began. How is that working for you? Where has it gotten families, countries, religions or individuals that have enemies? Is there an answer to this never ending story of death, destruction and mayhem? The definition of insanity is to continue doing the same thing over and over, but, expect a different result. Maybe it is time to stop acting in the flesh and start acting in the Spirit of the Lord God!
In Matthew, Jesus Christ told us to "Love Your Enemies". We are to bless them that curse you and do good to them that hate you. We are to pray for those that despite fully use us and persecute us. In Romans the Lord tells us " Do not be overcome with evil, but, overcome evil with Good"! Now in this Proverb we are given specific instructions on how to handle your enemies. If your enemy is hungry, give him food. If your enemy is thirsty, give him drink. You are to LOVE YOUR ENEMIES. The result is that your enemy will have burning coals of shame on their heads. It is difficult to answer Love with hatred. It interrupts the cycle of hate and violence. It is difficult to harm a neighbor who has shown you love and concern.
The best part of taking the high and spiritual road is that the Lord will reward us for this behavior. By breaking the vicious cycle of hatred and substituting love you will get a different result and stop the insanity. If your "enemy" gave you comfort and support and showed you goodness and kindness, how would that effect the way you think about them? Let us put this to the test, and see if the Lord will reward us. Take someone that you think is your enemy right now, someone you have a strained relationship with, and apply this Proverb. Give them something you know that they need or desire. Give them your attention and love. If you are having a problem with your father, mother, sister or brother, that is a good place to start. Love them and demonstrate that by returning good instead of evil, love overcomes hatred. Overcome the evil of the past with the Love and Good of your future relationship. If you believe Jesus Christ you only have one option. LOVE YOUR ENEMIES.
