‘“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,’ Matthew 5:43-44 (NIV).
Jesus’ teachings always go further than what was required in the Law. The Pharisees believed that they should love only those who love in return and that they should hate their enemies.
But Jesus taught that they were not just to love their neighbor, but to both love and pray for those who treat them like an enemy.
Jesus suggested a new radical way to respond to injustices done against us. Instead of demanding our rights we should give them up freely. No wonder Jesus’ teaching made His opponents furious!
Loving our enemy is a supernatural act. We can only begin to love our enemy as we ask God to give us the strength and determination to do so.
Jesus was able to pray for His enemies in Luke 23:34 and Stephen, full of the Spirit, prayed for his tormentors in Acts 7:60. When we pray for our enemies we are interceding before God on their behalf.
Prayer:
‘Father, help me to love and pray for those who mistreat me. I need your help to do this, because alone I will continue to harbor anger and hurt towards this person. Change me and help me to love them as you do, Lord. Amen.’
In Jesus’ Mighty Name,
AMEN!
Enjoyed This Post? Please Help Us To Share It With More People!
Final Thoughts:
We are desiring the very best for them and wanting to see them come to know Christ just as we do. When we are praying for our enemies, we are truly loving them with the forgiveness and compassion that Christ has shown for us. We can only love and pray sincerely for our enemies when God’s love is filling and flowing through us.
Who do we know that mistreats or ridicules us? What would it look like for us to begin to love and pray for that person as Jesus has asked us to do?
When we are doing this, our prayers will please God because our desires for that person are now in line with His. Now we are truly in agreement with the Father over this person. And with His help, we can love our enemies in and through the name of Jesus.
Be Greatly Blessed!
Enjoyed This Post? Please Help Us To Share It With More People!