Bless your enemies cause it's fun!

First of all, I just want to apologize for just now posting. However, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading what you all have to say. It is encouraging to me, as a counselor, to see you still seeking God and what he has to say through his Word. I have experienced coming home after camp and noticed the huge difference in environments, but God is constant. No matter what you go through at home, remember that. 

Anyways, while I was reading Proverbs 25 verses 21-22 really stuck out to me. 

It reads "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you."

My literal mind got stuck on the heaping of burning coals on his head. I got selfishly excited for a second...then had to dig deeper. I realized that by helping our enemies, they will most likely feel guilty for how they have wronged us. This should not be our goal, however. When it says that the Lord will reward you, something good will come from the "burning coals". Thanks to my handy dandy ESV Study Bible, this good most likely will be leading that person to repentance! This makes me think about my intentions in the past. Like y'all have talked about, God knows our hearts and the real reason we do things. I can think of numerous times when I have done the right thing only to glorify myself and make myself feel better. Who am I? I would like to think this idea of blessing my enemies comes easy to me...but it doesn't. Not even a little bit. Now i really don't have a lot of enemies out there, but I can definitely think of times people have wronged me...and my first thought was not to share the love of Jesus with them! 

Refer to Luke 6:27-36. I'm not going to type it all out, but the first two verses are so challenging saying this, "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." Once you have read these 9 verses, just stop and think. Think about how you live, and how you are supposed to live. And then reflect on God's love for you. This should automatically change how you see people and treat them. I don't know about you, but I'm feeling pretty convicted right now. Praise God!

The other thing that slapped me in the face was verse 28. "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." My Study Bible blatantly states it this way. The lack of self-control is a mark of a fool. He is like a city...left without walls, that is, with no means of defense against enemies. I want to challenge you to look at your life, and pick out one area that you lack self-control in. Be in prayer about it, and make the choice to follow Christ. As you all know, it is worth it! 

Well I hope you got something out of this post because I have definitely come away learning from all of you! I can't wait to continue growing with you. God bless you.