5-Day Sermon Devotion

Day 1: I Dare you to Love Your Enemies: Luke 6:27-28

Devotional: This is a dare, a “double dog dare,” to love your enemies. What might happen if you followed your Lord’s command to, "love your enemies?” Consider how you might ask God to change one thing in your relationship with your enemy? Will you do good to them, bless them, pray for them, or maybe love them? Dear Lord, help me to follow your command to love my enemy. Help me to change one thing. Amen.

Day 2: It’s too Tough: Psalm 109

Devotional: If yesterday’s devotion was too tough, then this one might be up your alley. After reading through the psalm, do you have similar thoughts or desires for your enemy as David did for his? We all have thoughts of destruction, or maybe put a softer way: desire of “obstacles” to be placed in front of our enemy. God knows our thoughts, even these ones. Take a look at Ps 139:1-2. In your prayers today, be honest with God about your pains, because He already knows them.

Day 3: The Golden or Tarnished Brass Rule: 1 Peter 3:9 & Luke 6:31-34

Devotional: Do you love and value the “Golden Rule” or has it become a thin varnish on top of your sinful desire? The truth is we all can be like a tarnished brass vessel where we look like gold but inwardly we are a sea of regret and rage seeking reprisal and retribution. Thanks be to God that Jesus, as an example for us, is purer than gold and He perfectly abides by every rule. Request before God that you love your neighbor as yourself, knowing that perfect love comes from Him.

Day 4: A Cheek Offered a Tunic Taken: John 19:1-24 & Romans 5:8

Devotional: Jesus took on punishment for humanity's sake: beaten, ridiculed, stripped, and executed. He had no fault, but was tried and crucified for the forgiveness of all. Since we sin, knowingly or unknowingly, we will create animosity and strife amongst those around us. Let us not add to the bruises of discord, but rather seek to be forgiven and to forgive. As you pray the Lord’s Prayer today, focus on the 5th petition of forgiveness of sins and forgiving our neighbor.

Day 5: It Will Come to an End: John 6:37-38 & Matthew 5:21-26

Devotional: When will I no longer have any enemies? A definite answer to that is when Christ comes again. There is hope even now that your enemy may be closer than an ally, a brother or sister in the faith. Strangely enough, we should desire that even our enemies will be with us in heaven. Keep in your prayers that you and your enemies may come to peace through forgiveness. Through giving, forgiving, and love are our enemies truly defeated.