Sue J Love
Loyal
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2015
- Messages
- 4,151
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:14-19,21 NASB1995)
Jesus taught, “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 mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28 NASB1995). And to bless, in this context, biblically speaking, has to do with speaking reason which confers benefit, i.e. what is beneficial from a biblical and spiritual perspective, like God blesses us. It is the opposite of cursing. So this is not about lying to people to make them feel good about themselves, but it is about speaking to them what will benefit them spiritually, which is the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the same respect, rejoicing with those who rejoice is never to rejoice over anything that is sinful and wicked, but only over what is good in the eyes of God, i.e. what is not against God and his commandments. And, along similar lines, we are not to be of the same mind with anyone who is not of the same mind with God, regardless of who they are or what titles they hold or what education they have. First and foremost we are to be of the same mind with God, then with all who are also of the same mind with God. And then we will be humble and not haughty, and not full of pride, for God gets all the glory.
And on a similar note, when it says, “so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men,” this is not recommending that we compromise faith and convictions and the teachings of the Scriptures and the gospel of our salvation in order to be at peace with all people. And Jesus didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword, and to even turn family members, one against another. Why? Because that is the natural result when we, by faith in Christ, die with him to sin, and walk in obedience to him. We are going to be opposed, perhaps even by our family members (see Matthew 10:34-36).
And who were Jesus’ primary enemies? They were his own brothers, perhaps some of his neighbors, but his own people of his own faith who claimed to believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit). And they were rulers and teachers of the Scriptures and people of prominence within the temple of God. So, if we who believe in Jesus take his word seriously to obey it, and so we share the truth that Jesus and his New Testament apostles taught, don’t be surprised if those who persecute us are pastors and church people and professers of Christianity.
But we are never to pay back evil for evil to anyone. We are never to take revenge against those who speak or do evil against us. For it is not our place to execute judgment, but it is God’s business to take vengeance on his enemies. He will repay those who do evil and who do not repent of their evil and who refuse to submit to his Lordship and to obey his commands. And we are not to be overcome by evil, but we are to overcome evil with good, which takes us back to Luke 6:27-28 and to loving our enemies, and praying for them, and doing good to them, and speaking benefit to them, too.
[Proverbs 24:17-20; Proverbs 25:21-22; Matthew 5:8-12,43-48; Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:27-36; Luke 10:27; John 13:33-35; John 15:12; Romans 12:9-11,14-21; 1 Corinthians 13:1-8; 1 Corinthians 16:14; 1 John 4:7]
All Through the Night
Based off Various Scriptures
An Original Work / December 7, 2013
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Blessed are you when you’re persecuted
Because of your faith in Jesus Christ.
Blessed are you when people insult you,
And falsely say what leads folks to doubt.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is
Great in the heavens. You’re not alone.
When you are persecuted in one place,
Flee to another. God will be there.
You will be hated by all the nations
Because you testify of God’s grace.
Many will seize you and persecute you,
And put to death the foll’wers of Christ.
Yet do not fear what humans may do to you,
For I’m with you all through the night.
I tell you, love your enemies with my love,
And forgive as I forgave you.
Pray for those who do evil against you.
Rest in my love and grace from above.
Bless Those Who Persecute You
An Original Work / August 26, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Jesus taught, “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 mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28 NASB1995). And to bless, in this context, biblically speaking, has to do with speaking reason which confers benefit, i.e. what is beneficial from a biblical and spiritual perspective, like God blesses us. It is the opposite of cursing. So this is not about lying to people to make them feel good about themselves, but it is about speaking to them what will benefit them spiritually, which is the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the same respect, rejoicing with those who rejoice is never to rejoice over anything that is sinful and wicked, but only over what is good in the eyes of God, i.e. what is not against God and his commandments. And, along similar lines, we are not to be of the same mind with anyone who is not of the same mind with God, regardless of who they are or what titles they hold or what education they have. First and foremost we are to be of the same mind with God, then with all who are also of the same mind with God. And then we will be humble and not haughty, and not full of pride, for God gets all the glory.
And on a similar note, when it says, “so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men,” this is not recommending that we compromise faith and convictions and the teachings of the Scriptures and the gospel of our salvation in order to be at peace with all people. And Jesus didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword, and to even turn family members, one against another. Why? Because that is the natural result when we, by faith in Christ, die with him to sin, and walk in obedience to him. We are going to be opposed, perhaps even by our family members (see Matthew 10:34-36).
And who were Jesus’ primary enemies? They were his own brothers, perhaps some of his neighbors, but his own people of his own faith who claimed to believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit). And they were rulers and teachers of the Scriptures and people of prominence within the temple of God. So, if we who believe in Jesus take his word seriously to obey it, and so we share the truth that Jesus and his New Testament apostles taught, don’t be surprised if those who persecute us are pastors and church people and professers of Christianity.
But we are never to pay back evil for evil to anyone. We are never to take revenge against those who speak or do evil against us. For it is not our place to execute judgment, but it is God’s business to take vengeance on his enemies. He will repay those who do evil and who do not repent of their evil and who refuse to submit to his Lordship and to obey his commands. And we are not to be overcome by evil, but we are to overcome evil with good, which takes us back to Luke 6:27-28 and to loving our enemies, and praying for them, and doing good to them, and speaking benefit to them, too.
[Proverbs 24:17-20; Proverbs 25:21-22; Matthew 5:8-12,43-48; Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:27-36; Luke 10:27; John 13:33-35; John 15:12; Romans 12:9-11,14-21; 1 Corinthians 13:1-8; 1 Corinthians 16:14; 1 John 4:7]
All Through the Night
Based off Various Scriptures
An Original Work / December 7, 2013
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Blessed are you when you’re persecuted
Because of your faith in Jesus Christ.
Blessed are you when people insult you,
And falsely say what leads folks to doubt.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is
Great in the heavens. You’re not alone.
When you are persecuted in one place,
Flee to another. God will be there.
You will be hated by all the nations
Because you testify of God’s grace.
Many will seize you and persecute you,
And put to death the foll’wers of Christ.
Yet do not fear what humans may do to you,
For I’m with you all through the night.
I tell you, love your enemies with my love,
And forgive as I forgave you.
Pray for those who do evil against you.
Rest in my love and grace from above.
Bless Those Who Persecute You
An Original Work / August 26, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
