FRIEN-EMIES, NOT ENEMIES
Few political rivalries have equaled that of Abraham Lincoln and William Stanton. Beginning as a legal clash between the two attorneys, it escalated into personal hatred. During the 1861 Presidential election, Stanton referenced Lincoln as a “Clown.” He viciously ridiculed him, saying, “You don’t need to go to a zoo to see a gorilla. Just look at Lincoln.”
But once elected, Lincoln chose not to “thumb his nose” at his enemy. Instead, as the Civil War ensued, he appointed Stanton as Secretary of War. Those surrounding the President were shocked. “Why?” they wondered. “Because the country needs him,” Lincoln responded. Later he stated, “I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends.” When Lincoln was assassinated, Stanton heralded him as a great man, uttering the famous line, “He now belongs to the ages.”
Today, on Lincoln’s birthday, perhaps we should reflect on the great President’s example. In our toxic times where anger, frustration and condemnation are the watchwords of our day, Abe’s example of loving his enemies shines like a beacon of light. But he’s only imitating Jesus, who taught us, “Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” (Matthew 5:44, NLT). Paul echoes this refrain in Romans 12:20, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink” (NCV). We’ll discover our enemies become our “frien-emies.”
We love the idea— but loving those who hate us is perhaps God’s hardest commandment to keep. “Turning the other cheek” sounds wimpy. It feels wimpy. But loving our enemies demands incredible fortitude. Any two-year-old can hate his enemies, and be kind to those who are kind to him. But God’s concern is how we respond to those who are unkind to us. It recoils against our flesh in every way.
What do you say we change our world? It starts with us as God’s people. We bring heaven to earth. Loving our enemies really works. It worked for Jesus, for Gandhi, for MLK, and for Lincoln. Make it a personal challenge. For the next week, speak only kind words to, and about, others. On social media. In traffic. Most of all in our homes. Ask the Lord for strength when we’re tempted to respond in anger. Remember Lincoln’s example. But even more, remember the example of Jesus, who demonstrated how to truly love our enemies. Let’s turn our enemies into “frien-emies.”
Principle: Let’s turn our enemies into “frien-emies.”
Promise: Loving our enemies will change our world.
Ponder:
In what arena of life do I most struggle with returning good for evil— family, work, traffic, social media, other?
What steps can I take to reverse this practice?
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Matthew 5:38-48.
Prayer: “Lord, during these toxic times, show me how to love my enemies. Make me more like Jesus.”
Perceptions: Record any ideas God puts on your heart from today’s devotion.