Today, I want to try something a little different, and let God speak for Himself.
As you read, allow your heart to feel and experience His nature. Read them again and receive your allocation of His nature specific to the situation you are facing.
“Love your enemies, bless them that persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
“…let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24
“Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire upon his head.” Romans 12:20
This is called retribution by kindness. It’s about turning the heart of someone who is against you. Empowering repentance by repaying them with kindness the wrong they have done. I have numerous friends that were formerly hostile.
John 16:33 – These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
James 1:2 – My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.
John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 – Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.
2 Timothy 2:24 – And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient.
1 Peter 2:20 – For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
Romans 15:5 – Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus.
Luke 6:35 – But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
Colossians 3:12-13 – Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Galatians 6:10 – Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Read that last verse from Ephesians 2:10 again. “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…” I love this verse. The idea that God has prepared (allocated) acts of goodness beforehand!
2 Timothy 2:13 – “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”
Romans 3:3 – “For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?”
2 Corinthians 10:1 – “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.”
2 Timothy 2:24-25 – “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth.”
Take a few moments to imagine what life could be like if you focused on experiencing the nature of God as your first priority. Do you react to events and people? Or do you respond to who God is for you?
PS) If interested, we have an entire section of our resource center dedicated to helping you develop deeper intimacy with God. Be sure to check it out here.
