Wednesday, September 6, 2023
There is a thin line between love and hate—holding on to that line is ambivalence. It’s a wavering feeling of uncertainty mixed with conflict. You only know that the enemy is near, and you want to close the door on them permanently—to sever all ties. But what are the potential implications? We will never know the blessings we’re blocking by responding to evil with evil. To us, our reactions may feel like protection, but reflecting negativity prevents us from forgiving and hardens our hearts.
Romans 12:20-21
20 Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”
21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
Evil has plagued this world but hasn’t conquered it, not even in times of war.
It was Christmas Eve, 1914. British and German soldiers were resting in their respective trenches when the Germans began singing “Silent Night, Holy Night.” The beautiful lyrics were food for the other side’s souls, and they too began to sing. They came together in the “no man’s land” between them on Christmas morning, where they exchanged greetings and played a game of football (American soccer). Every soldier knew that the enemy was sharing the same misery as they were. Having a brief truce couldn’t have been easy, but they made it happen. Even enemies can show respect and restraint.
I grew up with someone who, like me, lived in the days of toy soldiers, knights, and ninjas. Summer days of bat-swinging champions and flying kites were the makings of a perfect childhood resumé. I couldn’t have imagined this person would become my enemy, but their actions threatened my family’s safety. They burned down Camelot, and I only returned to Avalon to say goodbye.
Thankfully, after closing that door, God reminded me that severing all ties stops any hope of forgiveness and reconciliation. So I turned that line of ambivalence into a line of communication. I broke the stoney silence and reached out to my enemy’s oldest child in the hope that forgiveness and relationship may someday be restored.
Is it time to conquer evil and take the first step into “no man’s land” with your enemy?
Questions:
Do you respond to evil with light or with darkness? How do you feel after showing kindness to an enemy?
Next Steps:
Check out “The Real Story of the Christmas Truce.”
Never stop praying for those who have hurt you. Invite your enemy to church instead of ignoring them.
Prayer:
God, it is challenging to show kindness when you feel attacked. Help me remove myself from those situations to remind me that I’m dealing with another child of God. Help me identify and understand those who have been hurt, and help me show them what forgiveness looks like. Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
1 John 4:10-11
10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.
This post was written by Jaron Camp, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.