Jesus & the Trump Train 2016 ...

Many Christians may wonder what Donald Trump’s candidacy for the 2016 Republican Primary has anything to do with the Gospel of Mark.  After all Donald’s recent gaff in the pronunciation of two Corinthians (rather than second), and his brash manner, do not seem to affiliate him as a strong Christian.  But then, all of us have done things, that on closer examination would not affiliate us as strong Christians either, so who are we to judge.  A relationship between a man and his Savior is a deeply personal one, and frankly the less said about it, the more authentic it is likely to be.  At its core, submission to Jesus reveals a knowledge about ourselves, and about our weaknesses, and need of a savior – that is difficult to talk about in public if it is real.  It can be deeply humiliating.  But this is not the reason for my comparison.  Rather it is forged in the response of the enemies of both Jesus and Donald, to the “train” that is a jugging.

In the time of Christ, there was an active conspiracy of the establishment to silence Him, once and for all.  The message of Jesus had accomplished one singular uniting principle in the Sanhedrin, it had challenged their authority with the people.  Enemies who used to spend more time arguing with each other about doctrines and truth; were now united in the purpose of destroying Christ.  The people’s sympathies were moving to Jesus and the resentment of the leadership had responded in a hate campaign the likes of which had never been seen until then.  The Donald’s candidacy does not benefit from the artful, selfless, and loving rhetoric of Christ; one would rightly argue Donald (like us) is a long way from that.  Instead, it is the persona of Donald Trump, that has struck a chord in the voters of our nation.  So much so, that the “Trump Train” is a legitimate phenomenon.  Trump has won the majority of primaries in this election.  In any other year, the Republicans would have long ago closed ranks beyond the front runner, and created an air of eventuality that accentuated all of his good points up to the convention and after it in the general election.

But this has not happened this year.  Instead, people who cling to and vote for Trump, have caused the establishment to reach ever deepening levels of hatred and resistance.  The establishment itself has begun and intensified its own campaign of “never Trump”.  The media appears to have fallen in lock step.  CNN is normally more observatory and less participatory in politics, yet it is hard not to notice that for 2-3 days prior to each primary, their coverage of Donald is wall-to-wall negativity.  They predict an upcoming loss for him that should doom his candidacy, and a win for his competitors that should seal his fate.  When that does not occur, they immediately begin looking at the next contest, to repeat the same pattern.  Why should the Republican party continue a campaign against the clear will of its own people, and membership?  Why should PAC’s spend millions of dollars not praising the value of other candidates but instead tearing down Donald in ad after ad?  Because the leadership fears the challenge of Donald to their authority over the party and over the people?

This is very similar to what was happening to Jesus Christ so many years ago.  They are widely different figures, and the reasons for the reaction are also widely different.  But the reaction itself is eerily similar.  Peter recalls to John Mark in chapter eleven of his Gospel, what was the first Jesus “Train” that would enter Jerusalem the nation’s capital.  The momentum of the people was clearly towards Christ and away from the traditional established religion, ruled over by the Sanhedrin.  They had lost control.  They had lost the hearts and minds.  And they believed only the death of Christ would ever get them back.  But just when they perceived a measure of control, just when they believed Jesus would not dare enter their capital city of Jerusalem or their sacrosanct temple building.  Jesus was going to do both.  Trump might have said “in your face”.  Jesus would not.

Peter begins recalling the story to John Mark in his gospel in chapter eleven beginning in verse 1 saying … “And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,”  Peter sets the story by stating that while Jesus had traveled to many parts of the nation and around Galilee, this time He was definitely headed home, to the heart of the nation.  They were getting close.  They were near the Mount of Olives where so often He enjoyed praying, and where soon in the garden near there, He would be pouring out His heart to God; asking in agony if it be possible to escape this fate, to let it be so, but not if it was against the will of His Father.  For now though, the procession had already begun.  On this day, the train was already starting to chug.

Mark continues in verse 2 saying … “And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. [verse 3] And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.”  One need only examine this prophecy to know the Lord of Truth.  First, Jesus is predicting where His disciples will find a colt.  One He had not seen as yet.  But not only precisely where the colt will be, but the condition of the colt; a virgin colt, one that had never been ridden.  This was to be the fulfillment of the prophesies of Isaiah.  But not because Jesus conveniently found these items in His path, but because Jesus (our God) could see them even though they were far out of any human sight or knowledge.  Then, add to all of this, Jesus predicts that His disciples will be questioned, and provides the words they are to speak when it occurs, as well as the outcome of all of this.

Peter continues his recollections in verse 4 saying … “And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. [verse 5] And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? [verse 6] And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.”  Everything occurs just as Jesus said it would.  That thought bears repeating … everything occurs just as Jesus says it will.  Consider the gravity of this.  Jesus predicted He would return again to take us home to the places He was preparing for us.  And it will occur just as He said.  Jesus also said, that loving Him and the gospel of freedom found only in Him, was more important than anything else.  Families would be torn up over this, nations as well.  These things will also occur as Jesus said they would.  But He is greater than our need, and greater than our weakness.  We can trust in the words of Jesus, for as this colt incident occurred, so will every other prediction occur, just as Jesus said it would.

Mark continues in verse 7 saying … “And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. [verse 8] And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.”  Now the Holy Spirit brings to their minds the words of John the Baptist crying in the wilderness … make straight the way of the Lord, prepare the way of the Lord.  The people act as if in one mind, and in one accord.  They spontaneously begin to shed what little clothing they have on their poor bodies, to honor their king as best they can.  They spread clothes out on the colt for their King.  Then they spread their clothing out on the road the colt will travel.  When they run out of clothing they spread palm branches to try to honor their king.  These were not random acts of joy and praise, they were orchestrated by the impressions of the Holy Spirit.  The fulfillment of Isaiah in hearts as much as in actions.

The bliss that entered in to human hearts could not be contained.  It must break free in shouts of praise and triumph.  The people were ready to recognize Jesus as their Messiah despite the resistance of the Sanhedrin and His enemies.  Dis-fellowship from the Temple was not enough to keep them silent, they were publicly displaying their unity with Jesus the Messiah.  The train was picking up momentum, and nothing of earthly design would silence it.  Mark continues in verse 9 saying … “And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: [verse 10] Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.”  These were the words and praises that traced all the way back to David.  They were directly linking Jesus to the house of David, the lineage of David, and the kingship of David.  The establishment was furious.

Peter omits the demand of the Pharisees to have Jesus quiet the crowd.  He omits the response of Christ that if the people were made to be silent the very rocks would cry out instead.  The Pharisees know that Jesus is not bluffing.  They know that while it seems impossible, it would happen just as He says.  So they run back to the Temple in furious anger, unable to quiet the crowd, turn away the praise, or do anything to dampen the mood.  The establishment has lost.  But they do not recognize this fact.  They only increase their hatred for something they cannot control, and resume plotting though they do not know what to do next.  For the people are speaking loudly, and against them.  While Peter does not recall this part of the story, he does go on to mention what happens at the end of this procession.

Mark concludes this vignette in verse 11 saying … “And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.”  Jesus enters the sacrosanct Temple as if there is no threat against Him.  He looks around as if He owns the place (for He does).  And at sunset, He withdraws with His disciples out to Bethany, no doubt with Lazarus and his sisters.  It sounds anticlimactic.  The Jesus Train does not actually result in His kingship, or presidency.  It just arrives at its destination, then withdraws to the countryside.  But it is deeper than that.  Jesus has waltzed right in to the heart of the plots against Him.  He has dared to do, what no other human would ever dare to do.  He means this gesture not only to fulfill prophecy, but to speak to the hearts of His enemies.  Who but God would do this?  Who but God could fulfill everything in spite of the plots against Him?  Some of His enemies are reached, Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, Gamimael who would later quiet the plots against His disciples.  There are now cracks in the establishment, even if they are not public yet.

Donald Trump is not out to convert his enemies.  He is not out to share the gospel with them.  And it remains to be seen, if his run for the Presidency will reach fruition.  But the reaction of his enemies bears striking resemblance to the enemies of Christ.  An establishment always hates anyone who could sway the people away from its power.  This is true today in any Christian denomination.  “Radical” pastors are generally cast out as heretics if they challenge the establishment, history demonstrates this.  What Donald reveals to us is that political parties, and large corporations are just as intent today on this course, as were the enemies of Christ in His day. 

The striking difference is in the men.  Jesus spoke incessantly about loving others, particularly loving our enemies which is still hard for American Christians to digest.  Jesus never sought governmental power, He never rebelled against a pagan Roman Empire despite its hatred for our God.  Jesus was not interested in who ran the world in His day, He was solely interested in who runs your heart.  To be free, is not something a government can truly give you, or take away from you.  To be free, can only come from Jesus or not at all.  To be in control, one must cede it to Christ.  For the idea that we can be in control, is only a myth perpetuated by the enemy of souls.  To see evil vanquished, we do not fight it away, we can only ever love it away.  These doctrines run counter to our American idealism, and to the platforms of all political parties.  So our politicians put on the face of Christianity, but cannot reconcile the teachings of Christ, with the “realities” of governing.  To expect flawed men to be better than flawed men, is a mistake we make, not the media, or the leaders themselves.  But to hope in Christ, and to pray for our leaders, does not diminish any of us.

 

Bleeding and Dying No More [part one] ...

In a spiritual grand-slam, Jesus was about to complete 2 more miracles that combined with His first 2 would produce 4 sequential “proofs” of His identity as the literal Son of God.  In just the space of a few days, Jesus opens with commanding nature and it obeys.  In this He proved He is our Creator, and the Creator of this world, no matter what evolutionists would like to say about the rules of science.  For wind, wave, and storm though inanimate, hear the voice of He who made them and do His will in an instant.  The distance across the lake is transcended in the blink of an eye, thus bending time and space, all within the first hit of this spiritual grand-slam … nature, time and space bend to the will of God alone.  Next He commands nearly two thousand demons to leave the body of a man beyond human ability to help.  Satan and his many hosts cannot stand in front of the light of love that emanates from Jesus Christ.  Nearly 2 legions of the supernatural are dismissed in a single command.  Satan and his followers do not cede to the commands of men, but in front of Christ are powerless to resist.  In his second hit, Jesus demonstrates no enemy can stand before Him, truly Love conquers all.

As Peter continues recounting the story in the gospel of John Mark in chapter 5, Jesus will end a lifelong disease and fatal in His time of (hemophilia); which was again beyond human capacity to heal.  No illness was beyond His ability to heal, no affliction including that of our deep-rooted addiction to sin, was or is beyond His reach to heal even now.  Then finally as the fourth act in this sequence, Jesus would bring back to life she who was dead.  Not even death was beyond the scope of He who was and is the author of all life.  Four times in a row, Jesus would demonstrate time and time again, that He was and IS our Creator.  He can bring back to life that which was dead and dying.  He can restore what we cannot.  He can heal what is beyond our reach.  Perhaps it is our reach itself, that interferes with His ability to do just that for us here and now.  Perhaps if we were to be satisfied with the role of stunned observer, relying solely on Him to do what He has demonstrated He can do, our lives would be entirely different here and now.  The lessons of these stories were not meant to be those of history alone, but object lessons of what is possible in His name today.  Perhaps we should ponder this perspective as we examine the opening of His third and fourth acts in this sequence.

Peter picks up the recollection in verse 21 as John Mark transcribes saying … “And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.”  Jesus had accomplished His mission to free the demoniac and now returned back to the other side of the sea where He had recently been preaching.  There was no point to attempting another storm to kill Him, as His command over nature had been firmly established.  The disciples did not need a repeat encounter to remember what would forever be etched into their memory.  A lesson perhaps for us; we sometimes encounter the miracles of Christ in our lives.  They are great, mysterious, and have a profound impact on us.  But as time passes we tend to forget how great His love to us truly was.  It fades, and we begin to ask, where God is, as if He had never interacted with us at all.  Yet what happened, happened.  It does not have to be repeated to be as real.  No matter how often, or seldom (due to our convenient memories), our God interacts with us, He does in fact, interact with us.

Peter then recalls a surprising encounter as John Mark writes in verse 22 saying … “And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,”  A closer examination of this truth is warranted here.  In our day there is movement entitled Black lives matter.  It is a slogan based on the point of view of oppression.  Our black brothers and sisters attempt to call out the injustice they experience from our policing organizations sometimes based solely in the difference in skin color.  Our black family calls for an end to injustice and oppression from those who have no basis for this treatment - though not all police are guilty of it.  The broader prevailing view is to extend the sentiment to encompass not only our black family members, but ALL our family members.  To say ALL lives matter is to say that injustice and oppression are experienced more by the poor than by those of means.  Poverty is often more the recipient of injustice and extends not just to those of black skin color, but of Hispanic, Asian, Native Americans, and White.  The idea of ALL lives matter extends even to our policing organizations as their service is critical to our social order and well-being, and not all policemen are corrupt or inflict injustice to those who are poor, or of darker skin tone.

But what Peter describes here is a level beyond that.  The Pharisees and Sadducees, the “rulers of the synagogue” were committed to killing Jesus Christ.  This was not just injustice and oppression by the powers of the day, by the policing force of the day, it was an intention to kill innocence with the full knowledge of innocence.  This ruling group was unlike our police force.  Our police force has a small minority of participants who wreak injustice, and reveal corruption, but the majority of it are well intentioned and trying to do their best for our society.  The facts bear this out, as crime is not out of control and it would be, if the majority of police officers were corrupt themselves and also engaging in it.  But the rulers of the temple can barely count three or four of the hundreds in charge who were not actively trying to kill Christ.  Nicodemus, Lazarus, Joseph of Arimathea, and here Jairus are some of the only names not directly tied to killing Christ.  Talk about corruption.  If this were our condition, it would be like having 98% of our police force, who by the way were well armed, organized, and trained … intent on killing us … who are poor, untrained, and undefended.  Not one of us based on these conditions would start a movement to declare that the lives of our ENEMIES matter.  Justice would demand we condemn this group.  Anyone with ties to it would be universally guilty of its sins.  People would have to resign from this group in order to be treated better by us, or fairly by us, as a group this completely corrupt would have “no redeeming value”.

Jesus is aware of the intentions of this ruling class.  He already knows what He will suffer because of this group and it will be injustice in the highest form.  “None” of these enemies “should” be given the time of day.  But this is far from what happens next as Mark continues recording Peter’s account in verse 23 saying … “And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.”  One of these enemies has done the unthinkable.  He has come to Christ and fallen at His feet.  He begins to beg Jesus Christ to come to his home and heal his daughter who is gravely ill.  In front of a great crowd who has assembled to hear Jesus preach and watch Him do His miracles … comes a sworn enemy of Christ.  This enemy who by reputation alone is supposed to have nothing to do with “this carpenter from Nazareth” where nothing good comes from; has come anyway, and has prostrated himself in humility before the feet of Jesus Christ.  He begs for the life of his daughter.  This is the motivation for the actions of Jairus, but in these actions are revealed a few facts.

Jairus “knows” Jesus Christ “can” heal his daughter.  He is not there on a maybe.  If Jesus were just another physician, Jairus would not have ruined his own reputation to seek Him out.  The miracles of healing of Jesus Christ are so widely publicized by this time, and so widely witnessed, they have been established as “facts” by the people who live in this day.  The ruling class can deny these miracles all they want, but like the atheists of our day, it is a choice NOT to believe, where for others who have personally witnessed the transforming power of God, there is “proof” of His existence and power and love.  Despite all the denials of the ruling class, when push comes to shove, Jairus knows the miracles are in fact true.  Jesus can heal his daughter when no other doctor will be able to.  But then why should He?  Jesus has no logical incentive to help one of the members of His enemies.  Jairus was not breaking ties with the ruling class, in order to heal his daughter.  He remained one of the rulers of the temple.  In point of fact, even as he throws himself at the feet of Jesus, he remains tied to the group who is bent on killing Christ.

Jairus, like us, is not yet ready to give up everything for the sake of his daughter.  He could have abandoned the temple and committed there to become a disciple of Christ.  He could have given away his wealth and become the thirteenth disciple, but he was not ready to go that far yet.  So why should Christ help this man, if spiritually this man was not ready to be a disciple?  Why should Christ help us, if like Jairus, we are not even ready to give our all to Him in exchange for His help?  For Jairus to come to Jesus reveals yet another “fact” he was counting on … namely the love of Jesus Christ.  Jairus knew of Jesus’ love for His enemies.  This was not just a slogan, or a myth.  He had heard enough about it, and seen it perhaps for himself, in how Jesus responds to those who mean Him harm, to have faith and confidence to come to Jesus and beg for help.  Jairus trusts that Jesus will love him, even though he is a sworn enemy as tied to this group.  Jairus is banking on the love of Jesus, if not for himself, then for his daughter.

But the response of Jesus was consistent with who Jesus is.  Our God loves us.  Not just some of us.  Not because of our skin color, or level of wealth, or job we cling to in our society … instead He loves ALL of us, because to Him even the lives of His enemies matter.  In fact, our God would rather die for His enemy, than see an enemy suffer that fate.  So perhaps predictably Peter recounts the response in verse 24 saying … “And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.”  Jesus does not argue with Jairus, He does not delay him to debate the merits of going with him.  He does not demand that Jairus publicly denounce the evil intentions of the ruling class, before he is worthy of assistance.  Jesus just goes with him, without a single precondition.  He asks Jairus for nothing.  He does not ask for money, or future fairness and consideration.  He does not ask him to think about the group of folks he is working with, or to reconsider killing Him later on.  He does not ask Jairus to be part of a reform movement that might work to correct the corruption of the ruling class.  In short, he does not ask Jairus to change in any way, shape, or form, before he goes to help him and his daughter.  He meets Jairus just where he is, hears his request, and is answering it, without a single precondition.

It would be like the cop who pulls the trigger completely unwarranted and without cause, coming to the mother of the deceased, and asking for help … without being willing to apologize, change his profession, or even stop doing what he did that caused her so much pain.  And the mom going without a word, to help the cop out.  This is the level of love Jesus has for the life of His enemies.  He does not try to change His enemies by demand, or as precondition.  Instead He lets His love speak for itself.  Instead He shows His enemy how He loves them, and how much He loves them, and the power of love melts the heart steeped in evil.  There is no heart of stone that cannot be reached by the depth of the love of Jesus Christ.  Love does not need to command obedience.  When Love is truly witnessed, when Love is truly experienced, obedience is the natural response.  It is automatic.  Jairus will be changed by these events, but not because he was commanded to be changed, but because he witnesses the power of love in his life and the life of his family.

But the second half of this spiritual grand-slam had only begun, on the way to the final act to demonstrate the identity of Christ, was the third miraculous story which will continue in our next installment …

 

Friends & Enemies ...

Who do you call friend? How is your friendship defined? Is it based on common values, shared experiences, proximity, or growing pains? How long does it take you to make a friend? I am sometimes humbled by watching small children on a playground. They meet, they speak, and they being playing together immediately assuming there is friendship between them. It takes an abuse of the assumption to change the minds of smaller children. If no such abuse takes place, the friendship is confirmed. The older we become, it seems the longer it takes to move the status of someone we associate with, to the category of friend. We categorize people in many ways such as: acquaintance, fellow employee or co-worker, boss, current client, sales prospect, customer, guest, classmate, church member, family member, friend-of-a-friend, person of interest, date, fiancée ,,, there are many you can name; but few imply friendship. Why?

A true friend puts no demands upon us, so you would think we would aspire to have many of them, not less. You would think we would be working to include almost everyone we encounter in a positive way as part of our friendship lists. Instead, sin or evil has put a crimp in our ability to trust. We tend to be more reserved and cautious when making new friends. We have to assess what the reason for the friendship might be from the other person’s perspective. All of this thinking is practical. It is based on our real world experiences. It is based on the number of times we have been hurt by those we thought to be our friends. And as usual, it is limited thinking that due to Christ and our submission to Him, we are free to move beyond.

How does submitting the will to Christ allow us to make more friends, and take more risks, you ask? First, it teaches us a proper reliance on Christ alone for our emotional needs. It helps to center where we look for reassurance, guidance and even comfort to one who will never let us down. Knowing we can trust Christ 100% of the time, gives us an emotional foundation from which to approach the world and each other. Second, allowing Christ control over our day, our decisions, and our likes and dislikes gives Him the freedom to lead us to who He wants us to encounter. Our interactions with others then become anything but random. If Christ leads us to someone, it may be for us to meet that person’s need, or perhaps for them to meet ours. But we can have confidence that there is a purpose for it. As our faith and trust increases in Christ, our ability to love others deepens and becomes more immediate. We begin leaving the worries with Christ, and start enjoying the freedoms this provides in our day-to-day relationships with those we encounter.

In addition, as our emotional reliance becomes more intimately involved with Christ and as we get to know Him better one-on-one, we begin to have more to offer in a friendship with others. We are less “needy” ourselves, and more suited to “give” in a relationship. This makes us more attractive as a potential friend to those we encounter. As Christ has served us, we are able then to appreciate what He has done for us, and are inspired to share His work for others around us. We are equipped better to offer an encouraging word, take time to notice the achievements or efforts of others, and offer appreciation to those who rarely receive it. In short, our submission to Christ, makes us a better friend to have. It also changes the nature of our enemies.

Know someone who is out to get you? Perhaps a current or former colleague who would spare no expense to see you fail? The friction could have started from jealousy, or perhaps a perceived insult, maybe from real damage inflicted in action – but somewhere, somehow, you developed an enemy. Sometimes those we disagree with politically or religiously we think of as our enemies. But rarely do people who merely disagree with us, take the time and invest the energy required to do us actual harm. A real enemy does not mind investing either in our demise. It is human nature to believe we do not deserve to have an enemy. It is within us to blame the enemy for the source and status of any conflict. We may have made overtures in the past to resolve the conflict peaceably. We may have offered an apology even when we did not believe we were in the wrong. And still our enemy is undeterred. What now?

There is a truism about divorce, in that it takes two to complete one. Even though the fault may seem completely one-sided, and all external appearances may support this view – it is just never that simple. Ignorance, omission, and negligence can play as vital a role in why we develop an enemy as malice, or direct action might. We may have spoken our passionately held opinion in the presence of someone who held equally passionate and opposite views. We may have shared our negative feelings about someone and used improper language, which by the time it returns to the person we were talking about, is made even worse through exaggeration. We are sometimes ignorant of the damage a careless word can cause, and sometimes, in so doing, our enemies feel justified in their feelings towards us. It is nearly impossible to maintain an enemy without active participation on your part.

What does submission to Christ do to change our enemies you ask? It begins by changing us. Through bowing our pride to Christ, we allow Him to lead us to truth. Sometimes the Truth is unpleasant to us as He reveals our part in the creation of our enemies, but it is still His truth. And the revelation may be needed before we understand why our apologies may be needed, and why they should be sincere. When we realize the damage we may have caused our enemy, it melts our own hearts. Sympathy is then possible for someone who as yet may still hate us. Knowing we may have erred, allows us to approach our enemy in humility. We may have to endure insult, anger, and resistance as we approach as this is the conditioned responses one gives to an enemy. But part of our submission to Christ has enabled us to look beyond the pain that drives bad behavior, to the need we all have of love. Through Christ we are able then to obey His council and finally and truly LOVE our enemies.

Love is a hard thing to resist. Trading anger for calm responses, trading wicked lashing out, for considered sympathetic responses – these are hallmarks of a submitted will to our Master. Through His strength our human weakness can go the extra mile, and emulate the behavior of Christ as He used to approach us. For have we not all treated the Savior harshly when engaged in our wickedness? Have we not all barked at Him to get away and leave us in “peace” while we sin? Yet He endures our cruelty and continues to offer us His love. When we yield to Him, we become like Him. We start thinking less about getting even and more about making it right with those we have wronged, including our enemies. We begin to remember that ALL men are our brothers in Christ. We are reminded that our current earthly enemy may well be our closest neighbor on the golden streets without name. And we are humbled and astounded at our ability to entertain negativity. Christ frees us from this. He frees us from the weight of carrying hurt and pain for another. Our burdens are lifted away forever.

Now we are free to work towards the redemption of our enemy. And consistent, constant love is a hard thing to resist. As we reflect His love through us to those who need it, the hearts of our enemies will be touched by His Spirit, and melted by His love reflected through our hands, mouth, and ears. One who may have in the past called himself our greatest foe, can become our closest ally, as Saul was transformed to Paul, by the power of the LOVE of Christ on a country road. Our enemies may resist love for a while, as we did in resisting our Savior, but LOVE remains a hard thing to resist. Over time everyone is instinctively drawn to love. It is in this that our image of God is defined. We are creations of love, and recognize it, and long for it, and deeply need it – every one of us. It is through love, that enemies become friends. It is through love that friends become a precious commodity. For as we alter our thinking, we begin to realize the truth of fulfillment in service. This yields a bright contrasting alternative to the lies we have been told of self-gratification. As a friend who serves, we are fulfilled within us, while becoming something others wish to have around. Love is a hard thing to resist.