how do you handle that person who hurts you?...

if i'm merciful, i'll do good to my enemies.

luke 6.33, 35-36 (niv), if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you! even sinners do that! but love your enemies, do good to them, then your reward will be great. be merciful, just as your FATHER is merciful.

if you want to be like GOD, be merciful. do good to those who do evil to you. that's exactly the opposite of what society says. society says, when people hurt you, hurt them back, get even! gossip about them, destroy them, anything you can. GOD says, "no, that's a reactor. be an actor not a reactor. you not only forgive that person, but be nice to the guy." that's what JESUS would do. but that's so hard to do!

the next time you go to work, that guy who is constantly criticizing you, who is really a jerk, the bible says you're to do good to that person.

how would it be if every time he criticized you, you complimented him? you go to school and those people who are putting you down for being a CHRISTian, every time they put you down, you build them up, say something nice to them and encourage them. that would blow their minds! that's what JESUS says to do. that's what being merciful is. you return good for evil.

why? the best way to eliminate an enemy is to turn him into a friend. smother them with kindness. they don't know how to handle it because the world does not respond that way. they don't know what to do with it. all of a sudden, you're in control of the situation. you're on the offense, not the defense. you're acting, not reacting.

just a thought from the front porch…