In the Last Days
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
This is what the Bible says how many people will be in the last days and we need to pray for these people. Christians have a heart for lost souls who do not know God’s truth and the fulfilling life that comes from knowing Christ. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. (Roman 12:19) We are the Lord’s servants and there is no room for revenge in our hearts, we show God’s love to everyone because every soul needs the opportunity to know the truth.
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. (1 John 4:20) We are told in 2 Timothy, Have nothing to do with such people. We don’t have brotherly love for these people and we don’t spend our days with them, but we pray for them. If the opportunity arises, we tell them about the love of God and eternal life. We reflect God’s love with a caring heart to everyone we minister.
Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. (1 Peter 2:17) We are to show respect to everyone, and everyone includes all people we encounter. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. (Luke 23:34) Jesus prayed for the Roman soldiers who crucified him, while he was suffering and dying on the cross. When we are confronted with lost souls, we must pray, and we show God’s respect.
But to you who are listening I say: 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) If we are told by Jesus to love our enemies with God’s love, then we are to show God’s love to everyone. The only way to soften a heart is with God’s love and care. We reflect God’s love to everyone because it prevents hate from entering our hearts. The more evil the world becomes, the more we reflect the Lord’s love.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12) Our war is not with people, our war is with Satan. We love people and we hate sin.
Today hate evil but love the sinner, and reflect a caring heart. You never know who is going to respond with a listening heart. Don’t let appearance intimate you but look at the heart and know God loves that person and wishes for them to be saved.
Prayer: Lord, fill my heart with your love so that I love my enemies. May I never let hate for anyone enter my heart except the hatred of sin. Guide me to fight this spiritual war, and not to fight lost souls. In Jesus’ name, Amen