Do you pray for your enemies?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles.
(Proverbs 24:17 (NAS))

The love of God encompasses everyone, even people whom we consider to be our enemies.

Remember that God does not wish for anyone to perish. He does not have people that He has singled out to destroy. His heart does not rejoice when someone sins.

A common definition of an enemy is someone who does not desire the same things as you. If you consider this as a starting point when you consider who are your enemies, then the best thing to do is pray that the enemy becomes a friend.

Rejoicing when someone falls is not what God would have you to do. Rejoice as the angels in heaven rejoice when someone who is lost becomes found. Remember the parable of the prodigal son. Jesus told us that God is like that father who greatly rejoiced when the lost son returned. Do not be like the other brother who was angered by the return. Pray for the return.

Copyright 1998 – 2017 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Do not be deceived

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
(1 John 4:1-3 (NIV))

In today’s world, deceit is everywhere. The prince of this world tries to deceive the faithful by wrapping his deception in a cloak that imitates the Truth.

Be careful in what you allow into your heart. Test everything. Satan can also appear as an angel of Light. If something does not acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, run from it.

All of God’s Truth throughout the history of the Bible has pointed to one man through many prophecies. If something professes to be from God, yet does not acknowledge that Jesus is the only begotten Son, it is not from God.

Jesus foretold of this and left us a warning.

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect–if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
(Mark 13:22-23)

Do not be deceived, but keep your eyes focused on God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Copyright 1998 – 2014 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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