A Demonstration of the Divine Nature • Deshen Daily

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil (Luke 6:35, ESV)

What came to your mind when you read the title “ a demonstration of the divine nature”? What qualities can be an excellent demonstration of what God would look like if He is found living here on the earth? If you are like me, you might have first thought of a display of power or strange supernatural phenomena. He will walk into a room and demons will fly, people will fall under the power, mind-blowing word of knowledge, etc.

You will be correct if that crossed your mind because these things are certainly part of what would happen if God is here. However, and this might shock some of you, one of the greatest manifestation of the divine nature is not in these overwhelming manifestations of power or wisdom. A glimpse is given to us in the verse above. It is loving your enemies. Please note I did not just write “loving people” but specifically loving your enemies. Loving the person that you like is natural and almost everyone can do that. Jesus said in the verse before “And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same” (Luke 6:33, ESV). However, it takes guts to love your enemies.

Few things will test your spiritual maturity and Christlikeness like loving those who are your enemies or those who are “not your type”. However, this is what the Father wants us to do, because that is WHAT HE DOES. God’s children behave like Him as Jesus says above. Demonstrate the divine nature!

MEDITATE

Do you struggle to love someone who is just lovable? Can Satan demonstrate this kind of love?

APPLY THE WORD

Put this word to action. Allow the Spirit to lead you to show love to the person you would NEVER have imagined yourself doing so. It may be that person you just thought of right now. What can you do to show them the love of God? Praying for their good not evil? Meeting a need of theirs? Forgiving them? Just do as the Spirit leads you!