Many Christians are going to be conflicted by some of these “Who to help and how” issues.  We need to be able to discern what the responsibility of the church is, which is always to bring glory to God and not to reward lawlessness.  We, as Christians, are even told to pray for our crooked politicians; amen?  We know they are crooks, but God has established an order.  So, again, there is a difference between civil responsibility and biblical principles and laws.  Do good.  Do good, especially to the household of faith, praise God!

In the sixth chapter of Luke, verse 35, Jesus says, “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.  Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”  I think that’s the spirit that we are looking for in our lives.  Whenever possible, we show mercy and kindness, even to our enemies.  Tragically, sometimes our enemies are those of our own household.  So, when it’s possible, we show mercy.  

We don’t have time this session to go into the distinction between unbelievers, defectors, and the many different aspects of how we relate to people within the body and also those that are without.  We have all had opportunities to practice it in our lives.  I just want to share some of these principles because injustice is going to increase in this hour of lawlessness.  These people who are pawns in the hand of Satan and under the power of the spirit of antichrist, who are moving in opposition to everything we believe, must still be loved; amen?  I, for one, need all the grace that’s available to respond that way in some of these circumstances.  My prayer to Father is this, “Give me a good heart.  Give me a spirit of meekness and gentleness.  Let me love as I have been loved.  I have so freely received.  Let me freely give, as I have opportunity, especially to the household of faith.”

Father, we thank You this evening for Your great mercy and love toward us.  Who is my brother?  What is the need before me at this time?  Why would I, as a priest or a Pharisee, pass to the other side when God is my Source?