Exchange – Part 3

Exchanged, Freed and Victorious – In the last two parts we discussed this verse:

Luke 6: 27, 28 (NRSV) But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

The question arose…”how do we not become doormats and allow people to walk all over us?”

Consider this, the meekness that the LORD displayed while on earth was always “power under control.” He had the power to wipe out ANYONE in His path and yet He always chose love when it was hard, to give when He seemingly had nothing and to speak the truth in LOVE to all He met.

We will never be doormats when we allow the Holy Spirit to take control of our anger and our reactions. We can overcome evil by being the good God intends for us and others (Romans 12:21). You can’t “love Your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31) without displaying and extending to others the respect and care you want and have for yourself. This is NOT a passive existence of letting others walk all over us. In "loving your enemies, doing good to those who hate you, blessing those who curse you and praying for those who abuse you," you are revealing to them their shame and evil. Jesus never let someone live in their sin - He did let people kill Him so in His resurrection, He could overcome their sin, reveal their sin and reconcile them to God the Father for eternity (if they allow). You are not expected to just "take" evil. Because of Christ's work on the cross, you now have privilege and power from the Holy Spirit (IF Jesus is your Lord and Savior) to take a stand against evil. This is a controlled shift of power from letting others walk all over you to choosing to participate in the healing work of us and others. In this exchange of good for evil, we CHOOSE to release ourselves from the prison of hate that the world tries to put us in through the evil it has offered us. We CHOOSE to allow God to strengthen and fill us as we empty ourselves of hate and revenge – to make us powerful and reveal who actually has control. We CHOOSE to speak the truth in love, even if the truth is hard to say or harder for the other person to hear. We CHOOSE to give of ourselves even when we seemingly have nothing more to give – God has abundance for us and others (2 Corinthians 1:5).

A Note: if you are in an abusive relationship, it is NOT "graceful or loving" to stay in the situation and allow the other person to sin against you in thought, word and/or deed. You are free in Christ to step away from the relationship, speak lovingly about them to others, do good for them from a safe distance and pray for that person's redemption and reconciliation to God and you. Even if you never talk to that person again, you do not get to wait until they seek forgiveness or change to give them forgiveness. Reconciliation may occur after they seek forgiveness and change but your forgiveness toward them does not need to wait, nor should it - forgiveness is about you and your relationship with Christ, not the person who has hurt you.

Since I am still learning how to do all of this too, next week I will share what forgiveness is and is not. I will use the words from another person who has Godly wisdom on how and why to practically administer forgiveness and love to those who hurt us.

2 Corinthians 1:5 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

1 Peter 3:8-18 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For,“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.