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Institute in Basic Life Principles

Command 10 : Love Your Enemies | Day 69

Be More Than a Conqueror!

Paul raised the triumphant banner of victory by declaring, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Romans 8:37). The "things" to which he was referring are tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, inadequate clothing, peril, and sword. (See Romans 8:35.)

Following this list, the Apostle Paul quoted a significant passage, found in Psalm 44:22: "Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter." It is in these things that we are able to be more than conquerors. How?

The most powerful weapon in the world is love. By using it on our enemies, we become more than conquerors.

If we overcome our enemies, we are conquerors, but if we win our enemies over to God's truth by Christ's love in us, we are more than conquerors. When a hateful official came into the interrogation room, Dr. Josef Tson vividly remembered his previous visit and the painful beating the officer had given him. Dr. Tson said, "I would like to ask your forgiveness for my screams when you beat me last time."

The surprised official asked why he would request forgiveness, and Dr. Tson answered, "Because I later realized that it was the week when my Lord Jesus Christ was whipped, mocked, and crucified for my sins. It was an honor to receive just a small bit of suffering so that I could show His love to you." This response softened the heart of the officer. He let Dr. Tson go home for the weekend to preach at his church.

During months of daily interrogation, Josef Tson's captors stated, "Everyone else we interrogate hates us. Why don't you hate us?" He replied, "Because every morning before I come here I pray that God will bless you, your wife, and your family. I love you and therefore I cannot hate you." When the six months of interrogation ended, with deep emotion one Communist official said, "Mr. Tson, I will miss you."

When we see the potential of our enemies becoming believers and we invest in their lives, we will grow to love them, because where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also.

Think of your worst enemy, and picture in your mind what he would be like as a believer. The same fervency with which enemies attack both the Gospel and believers could be used to advance the cause of Christ, as in the case of the Apostle Paul.

If we want to be more than conquerors, we must use the supreme weapon of agape love that Jesus describes: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Are we "laying down our lives" for our enemies by showing them God's unconditional love?

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you ...” (Matthew 5:44).

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Contributing writer: Bill Gothard