Romans 12:19-21 KJV
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

If I could stress the love God gives us it be the same love we ought to show others. However the first verse in the above passage "says not avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is writen vengence is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord". God wants us to love and leave all the revenge and backbitting to him. He wants us to learn to love each other to the point we even love our enemies as ourselves. God wants us to teach our enemies forgiveness on earth and the compassion of God. Man needs visual aid or physical aids in understanding God's compassion. It begins with human kindness. One of my worse teachers in life about love was the one that as I turned around to go and I looked back to see a scrowl on his face, as if to say I got to deal with that woman again. As far as back as I could think I had done nothing to warrant that facial expression, whether it was about me or something totally different, I will never know or forget that reaction. Do we put on the facial expression of love for five minutes to turn around and say something under our breath, or when we think the person/persons are out of range, and can't hear what we really think. It something we all do whether verbally or mentally. Hopefully it something not so easily spoken, but in reality if it is, if expression is it alright. The answer is no, it is not compassion of God.

The love of God in a believers life is not that attitude of revenge, but the hope of salvation even for our enemy. As a child it makes sense, because most of the time children only have to deal with bullies in the neighborhood or school. There exceptions like children dealing with gang violence, and evil on the street corner by a drug pushers that sound advice of stay away is in order. The store owner that just does not want a child unattended in his store, who tosses them out the door, the policy not 18, go get a parent or guardian rule applies, I am not your babysitter. The point being the hate of others and the compassion of even our enemies to deceive can be a misguide into street life no one should have to deal with but it reality that occuring even in smaller towns and no longer large cities. What is our world coming too, and yet God calls each of us to love our enemy, because the days are short to when Christ will return. We do not know the hour or the day, but we no it is one day less then the day before on Christ return.

To love our enemy what does this really mean. We do not want our enemy to face the wrath of God, we do not want him cursed as the devil to a life of torment and so on. The day we can not love our enemy is the day, we want them dead and not in the world we live in. We can wait for God revenge or can we love others, even when they deserve it not in hope that God changes the person into a creation for him, that the person understands the need for salvation and repentance. Sometimes love is praying and social distancing, until our wounds can heal. Sometimes it not about forgiveness, but dealing with something that should never have happened. It does not mean you do not put your guard up, where you helmet and your shield, it means you make choice based on how it will affect your family, friends, and even strangers. Jesus talked to everyone but he had his core group of people that he was surrounded by that thought and desire to be like him. Jesus also had his Heavenly Father, he went and prayed to at times away from even his disciples.

It not always being the leader but the servant mentality of when to serve and when to say no. Did Jesus ever say no more, perhaps when Judas betrayed him, perhaps when Judas came back in as a friend to complete his task as a deceiver. Jesus has limits and his revenge comes when people can find no more hope or compassion. Jesus tried one last time to show his friendship to Judas by the dipping of the bread, though he knew Judas thoughts and what his actions would be. Had not Jesus reacted to Judas rebuke as anyone might have with favoring Mary's actions over Judas thoughts that a jar of perfume that Jesus was anointed with, could of been sold and given to the pour. Jesus drew a line when someone wanted to do something personal for him. Wanted to show him compassion when no one else did in the house. No one else had washed his feet. Yet on the last supper Jesus washed the twelve disciples feet as a servant as the woman had shown him that anointed his feet and head for burial. Was not Jesus baptizing his twelve into the pathway of faith as teacher and minister with the washing of feet. Perhaps a demonstration of not the whole body needed to be cleansed.(John 13). Can we cleanse the feet of our core of people that surround us only to have one really needing a good old fashion dunking like Judas. Last act of love to Judas was the dipping of the bread into the wine, a sign of friendship to Judas, not a sign of betrayal. Judas would leave because he was still angry with Jesus and desired to betray him which he did.

There are lines drawn, but let the enemy draw those lines til the end like Judas. Jesus resurrection meant not even his enemies could keep him in the grave. Be smart with your handshake of friendship, or your embrace, not always is your friend your friend and know the difference but treat them the same as you would anyone else. Beaware the devil wants to deceive and harm you if he can. Meanwhile continue to show love, in hopes your love and the love of God will pentrate the soul of that person, that desire to follow Jesus. Mark's Gospel says to love with the heart, mind, soul and strength. Part of your defense is loving with your mind, using your common sense in situations. And to love with all that God gives you in regard to strength, because loving some takes strength.

There times you have to forgive even yourself for things you do, that the love God wants you to love your enemy with. That the love of Christ that within you to forgive even yourself of things you do wrong. God's wrath and revenge is everlasting, without repentance it is a life of no hope and eternity with no hope. Think would you want God's wrath on your worse enemy.

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to love with our mind, with our heart, with our soul and with our strength, knowing your strengthen is often our enabler to love. Your love for us in our sinful state against you, you knew that when your love came into our hearts, and we receive your forgiveness, that it would enable us to love others as you loved us. Help us to continue to love. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Mark 12:28-34 KJV
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour
as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.