Are you familiar with that old saying, ‘Do as I say, not as I do!’? That saying exists because, when someone sets challenging expectations for themselves or others, they often fail, forget or flout the very guidelines(s) they establish. Despite our good intentions, because of the weakness of our flesh (our sinful/fallen human nature), we frequently fall short when it comes to:
- Fulfilling Our Promises
- Finalizing Our Plans
- Forfeiting Our Passions
- Finishing Our Projects
BUT OUR GOD NEVER FALLS SHORT
Jesus understands our weaknesses; He wants us to talk to Him about them.
- Mark 14:38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Jehovah is Who He claims to be. He does what He says He will do. His Words and Works bear witness to Who He is and who He empowers us to be!
- 1 Peter 1:16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
One of the clearest demonstrations of this truth is His command to love our enemies.
- Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
- Godly love is about decisions, actions and responsibilities; not feelings, intentions and fantasies (read 1 Corinthians 13).
Scripture is clear, there is no middle ground; you are either with God or against Him. You are either God’s friend or His enemy.
- Matthew 12:30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
- James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
- Which side are you on?
Every person saved by the blood of Jesus Christ is proof that God has shown Himself worthy to say, ‘Do as I say, just as I do.’ He has shown love for His enemies. He has done good to those who hate Him.
God has taken us:
From Death to Life
When we were dead in our sins, God made us alive!
- Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
- Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
- Romans 6:13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
From Enemies to Friends
When our wicked ways made us His enemies, Jesus died to make us His friends.
- John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
- Romans 5:8 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
From Foreigners and Strangers to Citizens and Family
When we were estranged from God, His love brought us close.
- Ephesians 2:12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
- Ephesians 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
- 1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
God has told us how to live in His Word.
God has shown us how to live by His Works.
Psalm 33:4 For the word of the Lord is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
Prayer
Father God, Creator of heaven and earth, Lover of the unlovable, Forgiver of the unforgiveable; thank You so much for not just telling us how to live, but for showing us. Praise be to Your holy name for giving me life when I was dead, for forgiving me when I hated You, for saving me when I was lost. Please breathe life into someone reading this devotion. I praise You and I love You. I pray these things in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.
