HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, July 28, 2024 – In light of what’s been going on at the 2024 Olympic games in Paris, just a timely reminder that Jesus told his followers to be offended in nothing.

He also taught us to love our enemies.

Paul cautioned us to repay evil with good, which is another way of saying to love your enemies.

Outrage and finger-pointing only fuel the hatred, piling hate on hate, which is precisely what the devil wants us to do and expects us to do. Outrage is what the devil is aiming for with his provocations: Don’t give into him.

How the world and the worldly church respond to evil is their business, but we’ve been taught differently. As followers of Jesus, we’re to be offended in nothing and to love our enemies by praying for them, wishing them well, and blessing them in any way we can.

That is our calling as born-again believers and our sacred duty as children of God.

Repaying evil with good and hate with love is also the highest form of spiritual warfare, but it can only be done with God’s help. If you’re struggling to love your enemies (and make no mistake; they are your enemies), ask God to help you. Moses repeatedly fell on his face before God, begging him to forgive the sins of his people. Jesus said of those crucifying him: “Forgive them, Father, they know not what they do.” We need to do the same.

God will judge both the quick and the dead; we’re not to judge. God will deal with our enemies in his time and in his way, just as he deals with each one of us. In the meantime, we’re to love and pray for our enemies without question and without caring what the world (or the worldly church) thinks of us. Where they see weakness and foolishness, God sees strength and righteousness.

We are to repay evil with good; as for blasphemy, we’re to respond with prayer and a kind word.

That’s our job as God’s ministers.

Just a timely reminder.