You're not my enemy.......You're my brother!!!

As a parent there are many times that my children say things that stand out from their normal banter. Some times it provides conviction and other times it just provides a laugh. This is a story that provides both. Also, please note that the pictures have nothing in particular to do with the story. They are just included because they make me laugh.

Before I begin my story I want to mention the dangers of teaching your children the difference between right and wrong. The danger is this: If you ever mess up (not that you ever would) they will be the first to remind you about it.

Now, this story takes place (as most of the interesting ones seem to) on a day when it is just me and the kids. My wife was out with her mom and sisters. I decided to take the kids and go to Costco for lunch and groceries. To brag on them a little, they actually did great at Costco. And to brag on my accomplishment for a minute I fed all 5 of us lunch with dessert for under 12 bucks. That's the beauty of a Costco dogs and frozen yogurt. Leaving Costco is where the the title of this blog comes from.

I got the car loaded with all the kids and groceries and start to back out. As I am about half way out of my spot another car comes rushing up behind me like they are not going to stop. I hesitate my backing because I am not looking for a wreck or anything. At that point the car stops...just close enough to make it really awkward to turn any further as I continue to back out. Well, I managed to finagle my way the rest of the way out and as I do so I comment to nobody in particular, 'That guy is being an idiot."

Just then my daughter speaks up, "Dad, you said we are supposed to Love our enemies. That means we shouldn't call them names."

OUCH!! Correction from my seven year old. As I am thinking of what to say my boys come quickly to my defense.

"If you're not supposed to call them names, then why are you always calling us names," they said.

Without missing a beat my daughter responds, "You're not my enemies....you're my brothers!"


That response made me laugh a little. Then I made my apology and acknowledged that my daughter was right and we are supposed to Love our enemies and do good to them, even when you don't feel like it.

So there are a few things that I learned from this conversation. 

1. If I teach my kids something I better make sure that I practice it or I am going to find myself asking them for forgiveness (which is bound to happen sometimes anyway).

2. My boys will come to my defense (at least if it means verbally attacking their sister)

3. Apparently siblings are in a different category from enemies, so it is OK to call them names

They were supposed to smile

They were supposed to be serious

They were suppose to be funny

If you have anything kind of funny that you have learned from your children please comment below. I would love to hear it.

Acts 7:60

Acts 7:60 – Then he (Stephen) fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this against them.”

As the number of disciples was increasing in the early church it became too much for the original twelve to take care of. They had too many responsibilities and there were widows being neglecting in food distribution. The twelve decided it would be best to delegate some of the responsibility. They told the people to pick seven men to take care of these extra needs.

Out of all of the people, Stephen was chosen as one of the seven. He was described as a man ‘full of faith and the Holy Spirit.’ In Acts 6:8 we read that Stephen did great wonders and miraculous signs. Stephen was a man who stood out among the believers because of the fruit his life produced.

Now, when Stephen was opposed and persecuted, he never faltered in his stand. In fact, this verse (Acts 7:60) reflects his heart towards the people. He Loved them and wanted to see all of them come to God. These men are literally killing him and he is forgiving them.

God has called us to Love Him and to Love people. Once you see all that God has done for you and the Love He shows you, Loving Him becomes easy, but people are a different story. People can be harsh and mean, but we are to Love them anyway. That is the true test of Loving your neighbor: Loving them while they are persecuting you. Do you Love them that much?

Luke 23:34a

Luke 23:34a – Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

        It was right in the middle of persecution. While these men were mocking Him, ridiculing Him, beating Him and ultimately killing Him, Jesus could look past it and see the broken, hurting people inside. It was for these very men that Jesus was enduring the cross. As they were nailing Him to the cross Jesus saw them through the eyes of Love and had compassion for them.

        Jesus told us we are to Love our enemies and right here we see Him doing exactly that. This prayer Jesus prayed really shows His heart and the heart of God for us. It still amazes me how God could look through all of the sin in our lives and Love us. Each one of us has sinned, we have all fallen short, but God still sees us as His children.

        Think about when someone wrongs you or does something to hurt you. First of all it doesn't feel good, sometimes it hurts physically, but mostly emotionally. And second, you want to protect yourself from it ever happening again. God is not like that. He does feel the pain every time we sin, but once we receive His forgiveness He never holds it against us again.
        As we look at Jesus example of forgiveness to those who were killing Him, we can know that He will forgive us for all we've done. Go to God; receive forgiveness for all you've done and allow Jesus to make your heart pure. Don’t wait another day to come to Him; know that He will not condemn you. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Luke 6:32-33

Luke 6:32-33 - “If you Love those who Love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ Love those who Love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that.”

It is easy to Love your friends. These are the people you hit it off with. You form a relationship and start to build trust with them. They Love you and you Love them.

When they need help, you help them. Then when you need help, they help you. You can lend them your things and know that they will return them. There is a mutual trust between you and your friends. These relationships are natural. They are good and everyone needs them in their life.

Jesus, however, also calls us to something different; something greater. Now keep in mind that Jesus never says these kind of relationships are bad or that we shouldn't have them.What Jesus says here is that these relationships are normal and will not set you apart from the crowd.

Loving your friends is something both unbelievers and believers have in common. Jesus says we need to be different. In fact, the bible says that ‘they’ will know we are Christians by our Love. If we Love in the same way as the world, how will they know we are Christians? They won’t. That’s the point.

Jesus calls us to a higher standard of Love. He says, ‘Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you.’ We ought to Love those who don’t Love us, be good to those who are not good to us, and lend to those who will not return. That is the kind of Love that will stand out. That is the Love we are called to have.

Matthew 5:44-45

Matthew 5:44-45 - But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes the same sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Jesus command was this: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” We are supposed to stand out from the world and this is one of the ways we do. Our lives should be different because we are God’s children.

Jesus asked what good is it to Love those who Love you. Everyone does that. It is easy to pay back good for good and natural to want to be around those who like us. But that is not how we are going to stand out from the world.

We will stand out when we start to Love those who hate us; to Love the unloveable. That is not something that just anyone will do. In fact most will not and will make a point to avoid those people. But we are not most; we are different and our life should reflect it. We need to Love everyone, even the outcasts.

As we continue in this verse we see Jesus talking about things that happen to us. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from we will all have good times and bad times. Your circumstances will not make you stand out, but your Love will.

When those around you are talking bad about someone or hating on them for some reason, show that person kindness. Even if they are not around, actually, especially if they are not around. That is where your true character will be revealed.

If you are Loving and praying for the unlovable when they are not there, when they do show up you won’t have to change anything. Ultimately, what it comes down to is Love. Love everyone, both those who return it and those who do not.