In our modern world where justice is less often seen and done.. many people find movie themes of good defeating evil, a source of refreshment and hope. Many are waiting for the murderous villain to get what's coming to him... usually a spectacular and vengeful death is hoped for and applauded. 

However,  this is not the way of God's justice. 'But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.' Luke 6:35

There are many bible examples of these attitudes. David has been featured in the forgiveness themes and for very good reason. Saul was often out to kill David, but David always hoped the best for Saul. He often talked up his strong points and defended his reputation. Even after Saul was rejected by God and killed... David wept for him and had the 'assassin' put to death for daring to lift his hand against one of God's anointed. David suffered true grief for a very ungodly man who had made himself his lifelong enemy.

In the feature scripture... 'loving our enemies' is one of many Christian reversals of worldly behaviour. We're also to bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, pray for those who mistreat us, and turn the other cheek to those who take advantage of us. The golden rule (v31) is to do as you'd be done by.

 This is more than not doing to others what you don't want done to yourself. To go the extra mile is to show grace and thus to imitate God. When we love only those who love us, we love with self-serving motives, looking for a return on investment. What's Godly about that?

However, if we obey Christs words, what should be our motivation? 

First, we look forward to spiritual reward in heaven. 

Second, to imitate God in this way confirms our identity as His children. 

And third, to imitate God makes us more like Him... we grow in kindness and mercy (v35). 

With the measure we use, it will be measured out to us (v37-38). This is not an eye for an eye threat, but a statement of spiritual reality. By this standard, to forgive our enemies is to grab a king-sized portion of God's love! Who are your enemies? We seldom like to use such strong language, but no doubt there are people in your life whom you dislike or distrust.

Are you holding grudges against them? Do you tell yourself all the ways they've wronged you? Are you harbouring bitter feelings? If yes, then for your own sake at least, forgive them. Seek to find a practical and tangible way to demonstrate God's love for that person even this week.

Do you ever feel you're committing the same sin over and over? Confessing the same wrong action or attitude again and again? Do you wonder if God gets tired of extending forgiveness yet again? Do you worry that His mercy might run out? If so, then these thoughts should encourage you. Though the Israelites committed the same sins repeatedly, God forgave them time and time again. His love never ran dry for them, and it will never run dry for us. Forgiveness that runs out is not God's forgiveness.

Psalm 78 reviews the history of Israel in order to praise the Lord. In Israel's history we see a negative pattern. In the midst of punishment, they would remember God and return to Him. They would feel their desperate need for a solid Rock on which to stand, and He would answer them. But after their rescue, they would get complacent and self-confident and would revert to their covenant-breaking behaviour. 

Neither discipline nor miracles were enough to keep Israel from repeating their sinful pattern. They kept on sinning because they did not believe (v32). Despite their lack of faith, God never unleashed His full wrath and always worked to bring His people back. He even offered them forgiveness ahead of time (Jer 33:6-9).

Israel sinned in the worst ways possible, yet God's mercy won. This didn't mean their actions had no consequences, or that they never experienced discipline, but they never received the full extent of what they deserved. God restrained Himself, understanding human frailty (v. 39). Instead, He patiently laboured to bring the people to repentance, then extended His forgiveness.

The greatness of His forgiveness is seen not only in contrast to the severity of Israel's sin but also in contrast to its recurrence: Time after time...  Again and again, they put God to the test (v38, 41). How did He respond? He acted according to His nature: 'But He, being full of compassion.' v 38. Even Israel's worst repeated sin failed to prevent God's inclination to forgive.

Every word of the gospel highlights God's intention to forgive and rebuild... that is the way he is, that is the way we are to be, that is the way people are saved.


The Spirit of Liberty

Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Consequently, the Spirit of God is a Spirit of liberty. When we meet certain people, we feel uncomfortable, speechless, frightened and insecure. It is as if their lack of freedom spreads and ensnares us. But this is not how it is with the Spirit of God. When the Spirit of God blesses us, it creates freedom in our life.

Freedom is not doing what we want, when and how we want. Freedom is not only freedom from something; it is freedom to something. Freedom is not false independence, but rather finding peace in any environment. It means finding balance and harmony. It means coming home. It means being who we really are. It means being in our element... God's element. 

When the Spirit of the Lord is allowed to do His work in us, we experience peace. We do not feel restless or frustrated; we find the true rest of God. When we come to the obedience of faith and allow the Spirit of God to remove wrong expectations and ambitions, we enter into true freedom.

Trying to be something God has not planned is very burdensome and restrictive. Therefore, it is very important to allow the Spirit of God to work in us, to allow Him to order our steps. We do not need to know everything. We can take one step at a time through our fellowship in the Holy Spirit. He will help us. He will lead us. In Him we find all the freedom we need... the freedom to perform unlimited miracles... the freedom to save lives.