LIFE SCRIPTS

Our life's patterns transformed by God's grand story

4 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it. 9 “Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Exodus 23:4‭-‬5‭, ‬9 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/exo.23.4-9.NKJV.

There are times when we feel like getting back at people who’ve made our lives miserable. But what do you do when the person who hates you most needs your help? God’s word reminds us not to return evil for evil but for good. You assist them. There is power in showing love to those who hate you. There’s power in showing concern to those who want nothing to do with you. When someone’s in trouble, assist them even if it’s your sworn enemy. In verse 9 the people of Israel are reminded not to be hostile to strangers because they once were strangers in the land of Egypt. Being someone who’s worked and lived among communities very different from my own, I’ve experienced my share of tribulations from hostile people. But also, I believe that there are good people God places even in communities we deem hostile to offer kindness to strangers. It seems as if God had a soft heart for strangers the same way He thought of widows and orphans. A stranger in this case might be someone seeking refuge…someone escaping danger and distress. How do we treat refugees…people escaping turmoil from their nations? God’s word smiles upon those who treat strangers well. Those who show them love and compassion. This is His will for our lives.

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