Daily Devotional - June 11, 2025

 

6/11/25

Good morning, Friends,

Matthew 5:43-44 NLT

[43] “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. [44] But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 

Now, just wait a minute !!! Yea, I can imagine you squirming in your seat, wanting to skip this devotional text in favor of a less challenging one. But I exhort you to carefully examine the words of Christ Jesus. Contextually, Jesus continues in this chapter, by further teaching his disciples the radical difference between how Christians operate and how the world system operates. News flash , there's a major difference.

Friends, this command can be challenging at times, but it is nevertheless a command. We are called out from the world as followers of Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit has completely changed us, and now we rely on Jesus even more in the areas where our human nature fights back the hardest. 

But King Jesus showed us how to love our enemies by living it out himself. Remember, we used to be enemies of God too. He also showed us how to pray for the people who hurt us. On his way to the cross, even while being beaten and mistreated, he stopped to pray and ask the Father to forgive the ones who were doing it.

Yo! Put some skin in the game, this isn't solitaire. Following Christ is sacrificial. The spirit versus the flesh. Obey or make excuses. 

You know what time it is, it's game time! #LoveAndPray 

Maranatha (The Lord is coming)  

Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)

- Grace & Peace

Pastor Trent