A Difficult Pill to Swallow

In Matthew 5:44 we read:
But I say to you, says Jesus, 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.

What is your first reaction when you hear these words?
One may say: I don't think I can do this. And you are absolutely right, you can't do it by yourself.
Only when we are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to display this kind of behavior. We need supernatural power to act like this.

According to Galatians 5:22-23
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Bible also says that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Strength to do what God is telling us to do which means to love our enemies.

In Luke 11:13 we read these words from Jesus:
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

In conclusion, we ask God to fill us up to the overflow with his Holy Spirit. We will find joy and with joy we will have the strength to endure life and pray for our enemies, bless those that curse us and to pray for those that persecute us.

Psalms16:11
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

The “One minute reminder” series is a collection of videos with biblical instruction for life’s real issues.

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