Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today we’ll look at God’s expectation for our Heavenly inversion response to enemy invasions.

In Matthew 5:43‭-‬45 (NLT) Jesus exhorted…
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.”

Consider…
Who are our enemies? What makes someone an enemy? Why did the law that Jesus referenced say ‘love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy?

According to Oxford Languages, an enemy is:

• a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.
• a hostile nation or its armed forces or citizens, especially in time of war.
• a thing that harms or weakens something else.

These definitions make me think of the exhortation in 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

That description of our ‘great’ enemy aligns with Oxford Languages first definition referenced above.

The first observation from today’s enemy inversion, is that we need to be clear about who we consider an enemy. When Jesus tells us to the inverse of the law and common sense, love our enemies, He’s telling us to love people who are actively opposed or hostile to us.

What does that look like? Luke 23:33‭-‬36 (NLT) paints the perfect picture…
When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine.

In the middle of the ultimate hostility ever endured by a human, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

That’s the standard of love God desires and requires of us. Our first words about our enemies should be prayer for them, asking God’s forgiveness for them. 🤯

When we zoom out just a little further and read Romans 5:10 (ERV), we realize…
I mean that while we were God’s enemies, he made friends with us through his Son’s death. And the fact that we are now God’s friends makes it even more certain that he will save us through his Son’s life.

Not only did Jesus pray for the enemies on the Cross, He died for them too. Now that’s love and grace on full display.

Romans 5:7‭-‬8 (ERV) emphasizes…
Very few people will die to save the life of someone else, even if it is for a good person. Someone might be willing to die for an especially good person. But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.

Thus, God’s standard of love raised through Jesus Christ is that we sacrificially love our enemies, even to the point of death. 🤯

If you’re like me, you’re saying that’s unrealistic and unattainable. In fact, I feel more like the Psalmist in Psalms 139:20‭-‬22 (NLT), who said…
They blaspheme you; your enemies misuse your name. O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you? Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you? Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for your enemies are my enemies.

Interestingly, these verses precede these familiar verses…
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

• Psalms 139:23‭-‬24 NLT

Anxiously the Psalmist wanted to hate those evil people who hate our loving God, who Himself is Love.

Jesus’ last beatitude was…
“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

• Matthew 5:11‭-‬12 NLT

Which brings me to my last observation, Jesus wants us to endure, not respond to our enemies attacks. In fact He said…
“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back.

• Luke 6:27‭-‬30 NLT

And 1 Peter 3:9 (NLT) re-emphasized…
Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.

So here’s the bottom line, in the midst of an enemy invasion respond like Christ with God’s love inversion. According to today’s scripture “in that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.”

An earthly enemy invasion requires an ER (Eternal Response) to become a Heavenly Father pleasing invERsion.

Today’s song is…
What Is This
https://youtu.be/OQyAnCB7fWM?si=G9fFRpebQQO5pgQl

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)