^{Luke 20:20-26 CSB “}They watched closely and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, so that they could catch him in what he said, to hand him over to the governor’s rule and authority. ²¹ They questioned him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, and you don’t show partiality^, but teach truthfully the way of God. ²² Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” ²³ But detecting their craftiness, he said to them, ²⁴ “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” “Caesar’s,” they said. ²⁵ “Well then,” he told them, “give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” ²⁶ They were not able to catch him in what he said in public, and being amazed at his answer, they became silent.”

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Are you treated the same exact way Jesus was? OH, HOW BLESSED YOU ARE!😃

1 Peter 4:12-13 CSB “Dear friends, DON’T BE SURPRISED when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you. ¹³ Instead, REJOICE as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.”

John 13:16-17 LEB “Truly, truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ If you understand these things, you are blessed if you do them.”

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Friend is a word people use too loosely. Friendemies is more like it these days. The world is full of backstabbers and betrayers. Let me salute you if you believe in love and friendship. That may mean the Devil has not defeated you. You may be a gladiator of the Jesus-kind. But if you feel you must be mean and disrespectful to others because they are to you, I feel sorry for you. You’ve been deceived. And have conceded to the Devil. Love is the greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:36-40) To throw away love and kindness is to cast away one’s own soul. 

Who hasn’t been hurt by others? We all have and will be. The closer the ties the more the hurt. The challenge is to obey God no matter how we are treated. Jesus said the love of many would grow cold in the end. It’s part of the sign that we’re in the final days of this world. (Matthew 24:12) Let it not be you or me whose love grows cold because that will disqualify us from the prize. We must continue forgiving and loving others. Maintain a kind heart amidst an evil, twisted generation. Or we will be outwitted by Satan:

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 ESV “Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ so that we would not be OUTWITTED BY SATAN; for we are not ignorant of his designs.”

Matthew 6:14-15 ESV “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, ¹⁵ but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

You and I are commanded to love in a friendless world. Remember God can do through us what we cannot. Beg Him for help to do it; to love others like He does. (Matthew 5:43-48) Love doesn’t make us weak it makes us strong. Because the power to love comes from God who is love:

1 John 4:8 “The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

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