I Prayed have prayed
Jesus, we ask You to let us see our enemies through Your eyes and love them like You do. Help us to bless others even when they hurt us.
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Jesus taught it. Paul reaffirmed it. And neither of them said their teaching was optional for Christians. Instead, God Himself commands us, His children, to love our enemies and to bless those who curse us.

No one said it would be easy. No one even said it would be possible, without divine help. But, without any question, the call to love our enemies is a divine command, not a human suggestion.

In the words of Jesus, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in Heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:43–48).

In the words of Paul, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. … Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:14, 17–21).

To be sure, this is not talking about how our country’s military should respond to a foreign invader. Nor is it telling a husband and father what to do if a serial killer breaks into his home, intent on killing his wife and children.

These teachings refer to our interpersonal relationships. To our attitudes. To our responses.

Will we bless those who curse us, or will we curse them back? Will we love those who hate us, or will we hate them back? Will we overcome evil, or will we be overcome by evil?

There are certainly times for making a spirited defense of one’s position, especially for the cause of righteousness. And there are certainly times when evil must be publicly and plainly rebuked.

But you can rebuke someone while having great love for them at the same time.

You can even want justice to be done while having great love for the criminal justly sentenced for his crime.

In short, the command to love our enemies does not call on us to compromise our ethics. It calls on us to take our ethics to a higher level, hating evil to the point that we refuse to be corrupted by it…

This has nothing to do with liking those who hurt you or attack you. Liking has to do with personal preferences. Loving has to do with truly desiring what is best for others. And true love will make personal sacrifices for the well-being of others, even of one’s enemies.

As noted by H. S. Vigeveno in his book Jesus the Revolutionary, “Our world has witnessed many a revolution, but none as effective as the one that divided history into B.C. and A.D. Every revolution involves the shedding of blood. So did this one. Not as much blood, perhaps, but the quality of the One far outweighs the quantity of others. Revolutionary, indeed, this mission, to begin with a cross and sway the whole world through suffering love. Revolutionary to build a Church on the sacrifice that offers man forgiveness and atonement with God.”

How remarkable. That is the power of the cross…

Excerpt from The Christian Post article by Dr. Michael Brown

 

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Ana
February 11, 2020

Mari, I agree! We can pray for our enemies and we can love our enemies but we do not have to keep being abused by our enemies. If the liberals are allowing illegals to come bankrupt our country, get free medical care that citizens are not entitled to, drive uninsured and hurt others in car wrecks without paying a dime toward the accidents they cause, and wreak havoc on our communities by bringing in danger as well as diseases, then we have a right to pray against all that the liberals are doing to hurt us.

    fran fink
    February 12, 2020

    I think of the persecuted churches in other areas how they too prayed for their enemies and yet they died, they were killed by those whom the Lord said to Love and pray for them, they got through all things even until death due to their love for The Lord. So as we pray for them, our enemies, and love them, as the Lord has loved us throughout our lives, we know He will keep us no matter what, for as we care for another it will show God how we consider all He has done for us….He can make crooked ways right. We follow our only Leader and that is Christ Jesus.

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Mari
February 11, 2020

Realizing that loving our enemy does not mean liking them is a wonderful revelation!
“A wise man sees trouble coming and avoids it.”, so it is okay to keep our distance from someone who would do us harm, while at the same time praying that GOD would change their heart. GOD’s word tells us to go to their aid IF they need help, IF they are hungry, IF they are thirsty. We need to use wisdom; some people are quite dangerous. May GOD grant each and every one of us the wisdom we need to navigate our way through difficult circumstances. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Carol Vigo
February 11, 2020

Father God, open our hearts to desire Your way and guide us as we learn.
Especially touch our President’s heart so he can learn this difficult lesson and begin healing from the deep wounds inflicted on him and his family by the enemy. May he be strengthened by our prayers and the love shown him at his rallies. Grant him Your peace, Lord. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

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    Rose Goetsch
    February 11, 2020

    And let Nancy find the words she mouthed in repeat of President Trump and find true ‘freedom for your soul’.

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