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Well, you made it to the weekend. Today is Saturday and hopefully you can rest and relax, especially if we get all the rain the meteorologists are saying we are going to get. We live in a world and culture where truth is defined by the individual. When I was growing up, there were clearly defined rights and wrongs and everyone from kids to adults knew it. And when that truth was compromised, there were consequences. 

For example, when I was growing up our coaches shortened football practice so that we could get to Wednesday night activities at church. Some of my coaches had pretty bad potty mouths, but they respected that and supported that. For example, having premarital sex or living together was considered wrong and sinful. Using drugs was considered wrong and sinful.  Looking at porn was considered wrong and sinful. Today, even people who call themselves Christians have premarital sex, live together and use drugs. Truth has become uncouth today. 

This is why our biblical passage for today is relevant. Look at 2 Timothy 2:25-26, “Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. (26) Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants” (NLT).

Some time ago I heard the following: When you must make a choice, to do nothing is to make a choice. The second is silence in the face of evil is affirmation. Finally, if you fail to respond to the evil you are confronted with, you will be increasingly overcome by that evil.” Due to the media and social media, people sling mud at others all the time. You can’t even post something biblical and godly any more on your own social media wall without someone getting offended or slinging mud at you or attacking you for it. 

We are engaged in a spiritual war right now. This war is just as real as WWII, Vietnam and the War on Terror were. The spiritual turmoil we are facing is real, and to pretend we don’t see it is to make that first choice. If we don’t confront it, our silence affirms it. If we don’t respond to it with a biblical worldview, it will increase. We must speak against evil when we see it. The Apostle Paul says we must “gently” instruct those who oppose the truth.” The Greek New Testament word for “gently” is [πραύ̈της, prautes]. 

I told you a couple days ago this word was used for colts that were broken for riding. In such training, care must be taken to bring the animal’s will into submission to the rider without breaking its energetic and lively spirit. St. Francis de Sales put it this way: “You can attract more bees with a spoonful of sugar than with a cup of vinegar.” Later it was changed to say, “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”

This means as we encounter people who disagree with us and even attack us for our beliefs, returning fire with fire only burns the whole forest down. We can and should have strong convictions and we should and can express and defend them. It is less about what we defend and more about how we defend what. And when we are attacked, it is easy to swell up with anger. But if we are saved, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. He produces this kind of spiritual fruit in our lives: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23, NLT). Notice the fruit of love, patience, gentleness and self-control. This means we have no justifiable reason nor excuse to lose our temper on someone. 

Probably one of the vulnerabilities we all face is self-righteousness. But there is no room or excuse for this as Christians. Jesus condemned this in the religious leaders of His day and He condemns self-righteousness in us today. Pride has no place in our lives, especially when we are defending our faith or correcting someone who does not know the truth. This is why when we are attacked or when we have to confront or defend, we should heed what Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare” (NLT).

In this political and polarized culture of ours, it seems our nation is very divided between the two candidates for President. The Left Leaning Liberals condemn the Right-winged Conservatives and the right mocks the left. Neither candidate shows holiness, godliness,  righteousness and humility as Scripture calls forth for us to live. I understand we may face disapproval, rejection, or adversity. But the consequences for everyone will be far greater if we hide and do not share God’s truth. 

Our allegiance is not to a political party, nor to a candidate, but to the Lord Jesus Christ only. And when I see or read or hear people who call themselves Christian slinging mud, mocking and hurling innuendos at others, I wonder, “Where is the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, and self-control” as the Bible we should have as believers being produced in us?

Stand for the truth we must. Confront lies we must. Be willing to be attacked, we must, but we should never resort to the same level as our “enemies.” When it comes to our “enemies,” here is how God commands us to respond:

  • Luke 6:27-31, “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, (28) bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (29) If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. (30) Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.(31) Do to others as you would have them do to you” (NLT).
  • Proverbs 24:17, “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice” (NLT).
  • 1 Peter 3:9, “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” (NLT).
  • Romans 12:14, 17-21, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse . . (17) Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. (18) If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (19) Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord (i.e., Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:35 here). (20) On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head” (i.e., Paul quotes Proverbs 25:21-22 here).  (21) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (NLT). 

Do you believe that Luke 6:27-31, Proverbs 24:17, 1 Peter 3:9, Romans 12:13-17-21 are the inspired, inerrant and infallible Word of God? If so, then lets obey them. Just from a few words Jesus spoken on the cross, a Roman Centurion, Jesus’ enemy and executioner, said these words recorded in Matthew 27:54, Mark 15:39 and Luke 23:47, “Surely He was the Son of God!” (NLT). A Roman Centurion was a commander of over 100 Roman soldiers and he held the highest rank among his soldiers. This Roman Centurion didn’t say, “I am so glad this traitor to Rome and false messiah to the Jews is dead.” NO. What he said is remarkable to me because people around, including his soldiers, heard him say it freely and openly. Is this remarkable to you? Right here in Matthew 27:54, Mark 15:39 and Luke 23:47 are the results of 2 Timothy 2:25-26. 

To make jokes and make fun and mock President Biden, potentially have dementia or early on-stage Alzheimer’s is unchristian and it denounces all the Scriptures above. I would not wish either one of these mental illnesses on anyone. I have personally experienced from family and friends I have loved who had dementia or early on stage Alzheimer’s. It devastates a family and their family members. Look at the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 2:1-4: 

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. (2) Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. (3) This is good and pleases God our Savior, (4) who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth” (NLT).

We are commanded by God through His inspired, inerrant and infallible Word to pray for our government leaders; not prey on or about them. Maybe if more Christian obeyed the Word of God on this rather than own sinful desires God might actually bring about a revival in our nation and even turn the hearts of our politicians. Let’s be people who pray, not prey on our politicians. Let’s be people who master our hearts for the Lord, rather than mock our politicians. Let’s be people of the Word, not people of the world. As we are, we will see some of the most unlikely hearts turned to Christ.

Questions To Consider

  1. When someone attacks your faith, how do you typically respond and why?
  2. Having read this devotional, will you respond any differently in the future? If so, how?
  3. What are you doing to help the Holy Spirit produce the Fruit of the Spirit in you and what is the evidence or proof of that?
  4. Will you ask the Lord to show you when you have done nothing, been silent, or failed to respond in the face of evil? Will you then ask Him to forgive you and grant you discernment and boldness to face evil with truth going forward?
  5. Jesus said from the cross, “Father, forgive them because they do not know what they are doing.” The Roman centurion and his troops would have been with Jesus from the time of His scourging to His crucifixion and death on the cross. They were to enforce the death sentence pronounced as well as keep peace and order. Why do you think the Romans Centurion said what he did in front of everyone?

Scripture To Meditate On: Matthew 5:44, “Jesus said, `But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you’” (ESV).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, give me the courage to take a stand for truth but in a loving, gentle and kind way. Please help me not to attack or mock or gloat over the misfortune of those who are my “enemies.” As Proverb s15:1 teaches, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (ESV). I want to be this kind of Christian for you. I want that when I walk away from any discussions with those who are against my Christian beliefs, that they respond in kind similar to the Roman Centurion at Your cross. I love you Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside!—Pastor Kelly



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