“Ye Have Done It Unto Me”
Often we treat each other badly, thinking that they deserve this kind of treatment without realizing that Jesus takes it personally as being done to Him. Every blow that we give to the child of God is given toward Jesus directly.
Our religion is in great part to love our neighbour; not only the holy ones but all of them. How we treat our fellow men determines how we will be treated. If we would understand the law of sowing and reaping, we would be more careful how we treat each other. Jesus made this clear to us. ” Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matt. 7:1, 2.
The Lord gave this divine law to ancient Israel, ” Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.” Num. 24:9.
Solomon understood this law of God. He writes, ” Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.” Prov. 26:27.
Haman hated Mordecai and planned to kill him. He built gallows 50 cubits high with the purpose to hang Mordecai on it. But in the end he himself was hung on it and Mordecai was exalted to the position which Haman had before. Not only Mordecai, but he planned to destroy all the Jews in the Medo-Persian empire. But the Lord intervened and the people of Israel were saved and their enemies were destroyed. This will be also our experience in the last days.
” The trying experiences that came to God’s people in the days of Esther were not peculiar to that age alone. The revelator, looking down the ages to the close of time, has declared, “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev. 12:17. Some who today are living on the earth will see these words fulfilled. The same spirit that in ages past led men to persecute the true church, will in the future lead to the pursuance of a similar course toward those who maintain their loyalty to God. Even now preparations are being made for this last great conflict.
” The decree that will finally go forth against the remnant people of God will be very similar to that issued by Ahasuerus against the Jews. Today the enemies of the true church see in the little company keeping the Sabbath commandment, a Mordecai at the gate. The reverence of God’s people for His law is a constant rebuke to those who have cast off the fear of the Lord and are trampling on His Sabbath.” PP, p. 605.
It is Satan’s plan to make us to fight against our enemies, or to wish evil to come upon them. Jesus said, ” Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matt. 5:44.
Apostle Paul had the same understanding of the law of God. He writes, ” Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Rom. 12:19-21.
This is a difficult lesson to learn. It is so easy and natural to hate and to seek revenge, but to forgive and to do good to our enemies is a difficult lesson to learn. Without the help of the Holy Spirit it cannot be done. Jesus gave us an example, when He prayed for His murderers, ” Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
It may happen that we offend someone and we lose his friendship and he becomes our enemy. To win him back to our friendship is not easy. Solomon writes, ” A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.” Prov. 18:19.
One person offended will speak to his friends and soon many will join him. This kind of offence has caused family feuds and even wars.
A leader in the church has to become a peacemaker. Otherwise the church will be divided and peace and unity will be lost. If the leader himself offends even one person in his congregation, his leadership and influence will suffer and people lose their confidence in him.
Many have left the church because they were offended by someone; yet these offences do come. Satan is behind them, trying to destroy the peace and love in the church. Jesus said, ” But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! For it needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh.” Matt. 18:6,7.
Our salvation depends on our behaviour, and how we treat our fellow believers; whether it is good or bad. Jesus takes it personally as done to Him, and He pays everyone according to their deeds.
If we learn to sow the seeds of kindness, even towards erring brothers and sisters, we can be a blessing and save them, and also save ourselves. Then we will have blessed fellowship with friends rather than with enemies.
May the Lord help us all to love even our enemies.
AMEN.
Timo Martin