The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Christmas is the perfect time of year to stand with Jesus, knowing full well that our God is not merely skilled at empathy but has endured pain... by us... for us.

Scripture Reference:
John 1:11 "He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him."

Reflection:
Christmas is the perfect time of year to stand with Jesus, knowing full well that our God "had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people" (Hebrews 2:17).

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)

Our God became a man well acquainted with sorrow and abandonment. Though he made the world and loved the world, they rejected him. He sacrificed all he was and they did not recognize it. They would not recognize him. They did not receive him.

Mistaken and rejected friends, let us cling to our mistaken and rejected Savior...

 ⁶Who, being in very nature God,
      did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

 ⁷but made himself nothing,
      taking the very nature of a servant,
      being made in human likeness.
 ⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
      he humbled himself
      and became obedient to death—
         even death on a cross!(Philippians 2)

His rejection, he foreknew. His rejection, he accepted. His rejection, he chose... FOR US. He knows the hurt. He lived the pain. He stands beside us now in full experiential awareness of us. Yet friends, his hurt not only allows him to identify but also enables him to save.

As we continue reading John 1, we see God's power. Even in his rejection, he was unfolding his plan. 

¹⁰He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹²Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

We may stand rejected by others. But, we have not been rejected by God. Even our small and irradic choices to stand with him are based on his choice. His rejection enabled his acceptance.

Do I define myself as one rejected by many or do I define myself as chosen by God? Do I live as one shunned by some or as one called to give to others?

Prayer:
Lord, thank you that you know how I feel... not because you are merely skilled at empathy but because you have felt this hurt too. How amazing to think you CHOSE to hurt this way! How amazing to think you allowed yourself to be rejected so you could rescue me.

Please keep me from placing my value on the fact that I am worthless to some. Instead, help me to feel valued by you, the all-powerful God of the universe. Impress on me the wonder that you would endure so horrendous an experience to get me.

Thank you for coming to save me. Thank you for coming to relate with me and my experiences. Thank you for modeling an ability to endure with compassion and integrity. Help me to live out of your compassion as I endure my rejection.

Help me to "fix [my] eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of [my] faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrew 12:2). I'm not exactly sure, Lord, WHY I am your joy (or why I'm not others') but help me to live in what I am!

God sees our enemies

God acknowledges the fact that his loved ones have enemies. Rather than simply push them to action-steps, he grieves with them.

Bible Reference - Psalm 69:19 “You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you.”

Reflection -
I love how the first time someone called God by a name was Hagar when she was alone and distressed. And, the prayer she said was, ‘You are the God who sees me ... I have now seen the One who sees me’” (Genesis 16:13).

When we have enemies mock, shame, scorn, disgrace or hurt us, God sees this. He sees the wound. He sees the sword that caused the wound. And, he calls the situation for what it is ... people acting as enemies.

God labels antagonists. They stand before him. They stand under his authority and in His presence as He comes to save us (69:35).

Prayer -
Lord, “I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me” (v 29). “The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in the for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it; the children of his servants will inherit it; and those who love his name will dwell there” (v 33-36). Praise you for taking care of our salvation. Thank you for our eternal salvation. Thank you also for saving us from the bitter battles of now. Thank you for being able to save us in ways to rebuild us. Thank you for rebuilding us for our children. Thank you for “rebuild[ing] the ancient ruins and restor[ing] the places long devastated ... devastated for generations” (Isaiah 61:4). Open our eyes to see the amazing restoration you are doing for us and our children instead of the temporary moments of “salvation-needing.” Thank you for working in areas that have been a stronghold in our families. Help us break free for your sake. Bless our children by this instead of the burden they carry seeing us wrestle during this rebuilding time. Help us trust you more.

God still has enemies

Not only did God himself HAVE (past-tense) enemies, He still does.

Bible Reference - 1 Cor 15:25, Hebrews 10:13

1 Corinthians 15:25 “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.”

Hebrews 10:13 “Since that time he waits for his enemies to become his footstool...”

Reflection -
To state again, God has enemies. Some were reconciled to Him by the death of Jesus (Rom 5:10) and are no longer enemies. However, some remained enemies.

It should encourage us to remember that other’s hatred or animosity towards us is not necessarily unavoidable or preventable. Even self-sacrifice does not necessitate resolution. Some relationships are for the Lord to resolve in heaven.

Prayer -
Lord, you are perfect so we are assured your enemies are wrong and will stand judgement. Human relationships are so difficult. Many times, people have become our enemies because we have not acted perfectly. Help us to be wise in areas we need to pursue and sacrifice. Help us to lovingly extend boundaries as well. Should our relationships not resolve on this earth, we pray you would work on our enemies through other means. We pray that we will the members in these broken relationships in heaven even if our relationship with them remains unresolved. Convict our enemies of their sinful part. Bring them to yourself. Convict us of areas too. Help us to trust your eternal plan for us both and await resolution.

We were once enemies of God

The existence of “enemies” does not necessitate the existence of sin or unforgiveness in both parties. God himself had enemies.

Bible Reference - Romans 5:10a “... when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son...”

Reflection -
God had/ has enemies... a pretty radical thought. Does this mean he is angry? No. Does this mean He is wrong? No. Bitterly withholding forgiveness? No. Vindictive? No. God had enemies because OTHERS had harmful and antagonistic feelings and actions towards him.

The status of enemy is not necessarily a result of an adversarial position on two sides. If we have a relationship severed with another person and have been unable to resolve this, this should bring hope and peace. We are not ultimately responsible for their responses.

It is important to remember what God did when we were His enemies. He pursued reconciliation. And, his cost of pursuing reconciliation was personal and painful. His Son died.

So here is where we must be prayerfully humble and thoughtful. Yes, I am not ultimately responsible for another person’s reconciliation to me. But, have I pursued reconciliation? Did I pursue it self-sacrificially?

Prayer -
Lord, thank you that we are only responsible for our actions and not other’s responses. At the same time, give us wisdom. help us not to use this as an excuse to be cavalier in our actions. Help us know when and how to be confrontative for your name’s sake.
Help us know when and how to “lose” self-sacrificially. Help us with the pain that results from personal loss for the sake of reconciliation. Help us especially when those losses still do not achieve peace. Rather than hurting for the resulting “double-loss”, remind us of your much greater loss. Remind us that you “endured the cross, scorning its shame” because of “the joy set before” you (Heb 12). We are your joy. Our reconciliation to you brought you to the depths of pain and shame. In your greatness and despite our indifference, you paid so much more than we have ... so much more than we can imagine. You understand the pain of self-sacrifice. And more, you stand by us demonstrating our value and worth. Regardless of the outcome, our self-sacrifice helps us to understand the level of love you have for us. Help our pain open our eyes all the more to understand the infinite depth of your love for us.

Pray for your enemies

God does not address the existence of enemies but of the status of our hearts towards them.While we cannot always control our status (being unable to control another person’s hostility), we can control, by God’s grace, the motives from which we respond.

Bible Reference - Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said ‘ Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (and Luke 6)

Reflection -
Jesus was talking during a time where the going philosophy was justice. Be kind to others but bitterness was fine. Anger and hatred towards oppressors was fine. Retribution was encouraged.

I love how Jesus clarifies this feeling. Notice how he does not say, “Folks, bury the pain and deny the injustice. Incorporate the evil-doers. Do not have enemies.” He does not deny the existence of enemies. He does not commission the removal of enemies (by offense as had been done when possible) or by kindly “burying the hatchet” and doing all in our power to change our enemy into a friend. Instead, he merely clarifies our duty and feelings toward them.

The position of “enemy” is not something we can change. We are not responsible for the relational outcome of a situation. We ARE however responsible before the Lord to our actions and behaviors in a relationship. We cannot control how people will respond. We can control our underlying motives and our position towards them under the Lord.

We cannot relationally operate from motives of hate. Webster defines hate as: to have a strong aversion to: find very distasteful: to express or feel extreme enmity or active hostility” ... “often coupled with enmity or malice”

Instead Jesus commands us to relationally operate from motives of love. Webster defines love as: “an affectionate concern for the well-being of others”.

This is difficult and nearly impossible at times. I think this is why Jesus commands us to do this in prayer. In praying for our enemies, we can regain (or learn) the perspective that God is in control. He will ultimately bring justice. We can rest in whatever our role is with our enemy trusting that the Lord will protect us and comfort us from their abuse.

We also need to be sure keep our relationship before the Lord to keep ourselves accountable. As we pray for our enemies before the Lord, he can help point ways we are sinful... keeping us from pride.

In prayer, conviction of human weakness and vulnerability may lead to an understanding and compassion for the enemy... helping to soften us and enabling us to love better and easier... not simply faking kindness. We won’t be arrogant claiming our own perfection in our own strength. It is important to realize our standing before God is by grace alone so it is with sadness we consider the state of our enemy.

This conviction may lead us to a realization that we have been perpetrators... creating or intensifying the relational rift. In prayer, the Lord can convict us of inappropriate ways we have responded to our enemies and give us the wisdom in how and what to change.

Also, in prayer we meet with the father of compassion... our wonderful counselor (Isaiah 9:6). He can supernaturally ease the pain and exacerbation of our inability to rectify all relationships on this earth. He can see the belief we have and help us with our lack of trust (Mark 9:24) in his choice to allow a rift or wrong.

Questions -
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” You will have enemies. Can you love them... looking out for their welfare? Can you live towards them openly communicating your actions and hurt before the Lord?

Prayer -
Lord, point out sinful actions on our part. Give us eyes to see them as more than “an object of pain” but as a 3-dimensional people with hurts and pasts and perspective of which we are not privy. Help us achieve reconciliation if possible but give us peace where their responses make that an impossibility. Guide us in boundaries and consequences that we have to impose... that they would be humbly done for both our benefits before you... not as vindictive judgements we are exacting for our own joy or relief. Keep us ever mindful that without your grace and hedge around us, we would be desperately lost and utterly hopeless and no better than our worst enemy. Help us live in thankful gratitude. Thank you Jesus that you have helped us this far. Continue to help and heal us!

Responses to enemies

God does not require us to “do whatever it takes” to convert enemies into friends. This should encourage us and validate our sadness in the boundaries we keep that retain them. He does give us guidelines regarding our heart and our motives

Bible Reference - Luke 6:27-36

Reflection -
I was sitting and praying one day... asking God the question, “How am I to forgive someone for a wrong they continue to do?” It was in that prayer time that God impressed upon me the term “enemy”.

Forgiveness for wrongs done looks differently than our behavior towards a person who chooses to be an enemy. I decided that more research and data needs to be published because there is an emotional aspect to an enemy that is significantly different than to a person who has wronged us in the past.

Is that emotional aspect unavoidable? Is hurt and frustration allowed for this ongoing hurt? I am so grateful for God’s instruction on ways to treat enemies...

v 27 “Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you.” Consider the following definitions from Dictionary.com

• love: “affectionate concern for the well-being of others ... benevolent affection.”
• benevolent: “desiring to help others; charitable ... intended for benefits rather than profit.”
  

• hate: “to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward”
• passionately: “having, compelled by, or ruled by intense emotion or strong feeling.”
• hostility: “... antagonism ... unfriendliness ... resistance...”
  

Again, it seems God does not address the EXISTENCE of our enemy but rather their effect on us. Even with those continuing to harm us, we are to act in consideration of their well-being. This care may cause us to create boundaries. We need to be sure we are not simply making boundaries for self-preservation or bitter resolve but in care for both us and them. God does not want us live life “compelled by, or ruled by” those who seek to do us harm but by His power.

“Bless those who cures you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Dictionary.com defines bless as “to request of God the bestowal of divine favor on .. to protect or guard from evil”. I believe there is no greater example than Jesus on the cross. Even while currently enduring the abuse, he asks for the Lord to grant them pardon. He continues to pray for their change ... their good. Can we rest so assured of our validation before the Lord, we do not need to ask him to validate us further through our enemy's destruction!?! Can we continue to hope and pray for their good.

“If someone strikes you on one cheek ... takes your cloak... Give to everyone who asks you... do not demand it back.” Human nature craves resolution. To those wounded, we don’t simply want relationships resolved but situations. We cannot live this way ... longing for past situations to be changed. The need to stop scrounging to regain lost pride, belongings, etc. There is a place for asking it back but at times, with our enemies, these things cannot be retrieved without harsh demands and rearranging our lives in bitter self-validation. This is not what God wants for us.

“Lend to them without expecting to get anything back.” We need to live postured to allow hurts unacknowledged but also still willing to aid without acknowledgement. We need to be able to settle our hearts so deeply in God’s approval of us and His eventual righting of all harm, that we can, not only delay vindication, but be will willing to allow more losses if God calls.

“He is kind to the ungrateful.” Our benevolent helps for others needs to flow from the one who gave it to us. He have it to us when we were unworthy. Our kindness flows from our internal source of kindness, Jesus Christ, not the object, an external person.

Prayer -
Lord, Thank you that you gave generously to us. Help us receive all of who you are so we can be willing to give generously to others who can be so cruel. In relationships where strong boundaries are most caring for both sides (to prevent abuse but also to prevent someone to continue abusing), allow our hearts to generously long for their restoration with you. In relationships that are still engaged, give us wisdom to navigate in kind, self-sacrificial yet safe care. Guide us in boundaries knowing that to allow some to continue to wound is not good for them. Help us to recognize areas we are making difficult choices for your glory and their (and our) good and when we are merely fighting for vindication. Help us in areas where our pride has been hurt. Help us endure emotional and physical losses we have sustained. We cannot regain what we lost. Yet, like with Job, You bring miraculous restoration. You restore “the years the locusts have eaten” (Joel 2:25). The restoration You bring is so much greater than the repayment we could conjure. Help us to pursue with You, the restoration you long for rather than selfishly living a vendetta.