Be Gentle With Opponents

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24-26)

All of us have opponents. All of us have enemies. All of us have people who are against us. 

What do we do with our opponents? Fight to defeat them! Oppose them right back, right? 

So these words from the Bible hit home. Christians have a different attitude toward their opponents: Not quarrelsome, but kind to everyone. Not resentful, but able to teach. Not harsh, but gentle.

What? Isn’t that the opposite of how we are by nature? When others hate us, what feels so natural? To hate them right back! When others mock us, what feels like the perfect response? To mock them right back! When others hurt us, what does every fiber of our being want to do? Hurt them too!

Thankfully, that’s not how Jesus treated us. By nature, we were Jesus’ enemies. We were Jesus’ opponents. It was our sins that sent him to the cross. Yet, Jesus didn’t hurt us back. Jesus didn’t insult us back. What did he do? He died to take every one of our sins away. It’s Jesus’ kindness that empowers us to be kind. It’s Jesus’ gentle teaching that leads us to patiently instruct others, even our enemies.

Why? Because we learn from Jesus what the real goal is: “That God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.” A Christian whose heart has been won by Christ shares Christ’s goal for every person, even our opponents: That they would repent of their sins and find salvation in Jesus.

Our real opponent isn’t another person. Who is it? The devil, who has set a deadly trap for all of us. The devil is our real opponent! True victory doesn’t come from seeing another person humbled or defeated. Where does true victory come from? The empty tomb of Jesus where he powerfully defeated sin, death, and the devil for us when he rose from the dead.

Whoever your opponent is, let go of your quarrels and resentment. Gentle instruction leads to repentance.

Dear Jesus, forgive me for the resentment and hate that too often fill my heart toward others. May your cross and empty tomb fill me with gentleness, even toward my opponents, that leads to their repentance. Amen.

Pastor Nathan