Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

I Jesus Christ the Lord of your life? If so, then answer me this question; what is He saying to you?

There will be a fair segment of yes answers that will say, “I’ve read my bible and I know what it says.”

Me too, for decades I have been reading and rereading, over and over again. I know the human mind is prone to forgetfulness. The only answer to that is refreshing our minds. That helps with one of our failings, but what of the other?

We fail to use the Word of God to direct our steps every day, all day. Our “know it all” attitudes will tell the whispering Holy Spirit, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.” That is hearing, but it isn’t listening. There is a difference.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Look at the last two items here, thoughts and intents. Since the Word is a divider of soul and spirit, then the division of thoughts and intents fall into those two categories. We learn our lessons, are taught sound doctrine, are given practical applications by teachers and preachers who are addressing principles and practices. We store those in memory.

Preachers and teachers don’t know you every thought nor intent. God does and when God wishes to address any specific issue with you through His Word, we must not allow what we know to be a barrier, a wall, a self-defense mechanism to God’s correction or growth for us.

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Romans 12:17-19 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

For years I used Romans 12:18 as an excuse not to love my enemies. It isn’t possible, I’d tell myself, they won’t let me. The truth being that I didn’t even try. The harder truth being I didn’t know how to love the unloveable.

God knows how.

My biggest problem wasn’t that I couldn’t but when confronted I reverted back into the old man’s defensive position. I had not learned how to stay in the spirit under pressure.

Being a man with trust issues, I wasn’t trusting God to complete His good work in me. These things we cannot do in our own human failings. They can only be accomplished by God in us. That takes two things, cooperation and trust. When Paul said “as much as is possible” he meant to cooperate as much as possible and then let God do the rest. Verse 19 says give place unto wrath which means, give it over to God.

That isn’t easy to see when you are a new Christian. That takes some maturing. Let me put it another way. The sweetest fruit matures on the vine.

John 15:4-5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

I cannot love my enemies without Him.