Read Jeremiah Chapter 40
Even Your Enemies Might Respect You.
Several people from Jerusalem were chained and were taken captive to Babylon. The commander, Nebuzaradon, saw Jeremiah amongst them and took the chains off from him. He recognized him as the prophet whom God spoke through. The commander told Jeremiah that his people did not listen to him and now this disaster has fallen upon them. The commander also told Jeremiah he was free to go wherever he wanted. He could come to Babylon, go back to Jerusalem with those who were left behind, or anywhere else in the country. Jeremiah found favor from the Babylonians, the enemy, and he chose to go back to his people who were left behind in Jerusalem.
In the face of disaster, Judas’s enemies, the Babylonians, found favor with Jeremiah and treated him with respect. They freed him and told him he could live wherever he wanted. Jeremiah’s reputation preceded him so that even his enemies respected him.
Do you want to gain the respect of others? Stay faithful to the Lord, be a person of integrity, learn to love others, including your enemies. As a result, you may find favor from others who respect you. Who knows, it could even be your enemies.
I worked in the ghetto in Washington DC for 8 weeks “many moons” ago. I interacted with the people on the streets, we fed them, and helped them with their needs. During my routine walks on the streets, twice I was confronted in an unfavorable manner, one who threatened to kill me, and both times I was recognized by a different street person who defended me.
I’m not encouraging people to walk down a dark alley but I am encouraging people to be a man or woman of God with integrity who treats people justly and fairly regardless of the color of their skin, regardless of their popularity, regardless whether they’re a friend or enemy. Your reputation will precede you and you will find favor amongst people you never thought you would.
