There is only one enemy. One enemy who is attempting to tear our nation, our communities, our world apart. Doing so with anger, rioting, division, and hostility. The enemy, call him what you want - satan, the devil, the adversary, evil one, prince of darkness - it is him that is causing the havoic. Satan gets a hold of men’s and women’s hearts and decevies and tricks, distracts, binds, discourages, hardens hearts, distorts the truth, tempts, and stirs anger and hatred. We are not each other’s enemies. It is the adversary who is the enemy. I imagine he and his minions are having a hay day, smiling and cheering with glee with the riots happening in our cities, states, our country, and throughout all the world the past few weeks. Satan tries and often succeeds to do the same thing within marriages, families, and extended families. He does not care about families, he seeks to destroy them. He is all about division and stirring us up inside to see each other as the enemy, frustrating peace. In reality, he is the enemy. There is only one enemy.
Today is flag day. Opening up my blinds this morning and seeing the flag outside my window and lining part of my street, sure put a smile on my face. I thought because of Covid the neighborhood flags would not be put up today, so it was a happy surprise. Seeing the flag caused me to say the pledge of allegiance in my mind. “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America” - at this time, we are not united, there are many fighting against each other, racial turmoil, creating divisions, causing harm and destroying others, not taking responsibility for actions and shifting blame. “And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God” - seems to me that less of us are seeking to listen to God and take counsel and direction from Him or even acknowledging Him and His goodness in our lives. “Indivisible” - doesn’t that mean undivided? Today, we surely are a people more divided. “With liberty and justice for all” - there are many of our brothers and sisters who feel they have little liberties and are denied justice. This makes me sad. Shouldn’t our attitude and actions be to listen to each other, try to understand one another, show more love, extend hands of mercy, kindness, and extend forgiveness to one another when we get it wrong?
We are all God’s Children. We should all be one - one big, happy family. (Sounds so nice, doesn’t it?) But as family, let’s look out for each other, help one another, be happy for one another, show care and concern for one another. When I hear the news about the riots, I feel the contention and hatred, the divisions, the anger towards others. Destroying people’s lives and God’s beautiful creations, must cause our Heavenly parents to weep.
In our family we have a big brother, even our Savior Jesus Christ. What would He do? He is our example, He showed the way we should treat and care for one another. We don’t get it right a lot of times, we mess up and hurt one another. But His grace, His forgiveness, and mercy allows us to learn from our mistakes, repent and do better next time. We can be like Jesus in this way too. Our Savior saves us from our sins and mistakes. He is the only one that can save us. There is only one Savior, and it is our elder brother, Jesus Christ.
There is only one me. I have not had the experiences of others. Others have not had the experiences I have had or think, believe, or feel as I do. We can’t always see inside another person’s heart. So how can we pass judgment on his or her journey through life?
What can I do? I am going to better keep the first and great commandment - to love God. I am going to better keep the second commandment too - to love my neighbor as myself. “Jesus said… Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
I’m also going to watch for the adversary, that one enemy, who seeks to destroy my peace and attempts to stir my soul to anger, who tells me untruths about myself and others. I will better seek and listen to what Jesus tells me, I will Hear Him. I am going to continue to teach and be an example for my family. I desire to speak up about a loving Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and how we need to treat one another with more kindness and love. I won’t be able to change the world. However, I can start with improving me, my family, and my home, hopefully a small ripple will be the effect. “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”
And let it begin with me
Let There Be Peace on Earth
The peace that was meant to be
Brothers all are we
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.
Let this be the moment now.
Let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment and live
Each moment in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
No comments:
Post a Comment