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Tellville, I think this passage is. In our society, we try to be nicy nice to much, and thinking bad things against those who don't like us, or are mean to us, is almost forbidden. I think this passage is telling us Christians what to do. You never know what will happen. As my anecdotal evidence, let me tell a true story. This happened years ago, shortly after my conversion. As a line cook, there was one guy who was lazy and could not cook a pot of beans. But he buttered up the owner, who thought he was going to be the next Emeril. One day, he just sat while the rest of us were working hard. I walked up to him and said "Jesus loves you, but everybody else thinks you're a JERK!!" Well, about a year latter, out of the blue, one day he comes up to me and asks me if I know a good church that he could attend. "WHAT???" I told him. He told me the story of his change through the year, when he was listening to my Young Earth debate with a old earther catholic through out the year. His wife and kids were coming back and he wanted to know more. I got him hooked up to a local church that could meet him where he was and provide good discipling. But the event greatly influenced me. I've been a firm believer in the verse you quote, because you never know when God will change a person's heart.
God Bless - Grymir
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