Tag: pray for persecutors
Day 5–Bless as You Serve!
Scripture reading for March 20: Matthew 5:43-45 “”You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father Who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.””
Acts 20:35 “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
As we finish this week on being a servant of our Lord, it is good to be reminded of the words of Jesus Christ, the ultimate Servant/Leader. Normal human behavior is to love those who love us and to hate those who hate us. This creates a culture of division and strife that binds up those involved in it. Jesus taught His followers that God’s adopted children must change their own ways to accurately reflect their heavenly Father.
God is Love and His Love gives blessings to all, the just and the unjust, the good and the evil. He sends rain to all, showering them with blessings. The sunshine of His Love is rising on all mankind and His goodness leads people to repentance. (Romans 2:4) God’s Love for the world of lost mankind moved Him to sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to demonstrate that love by giving His life-blood to pay for our sins.
As first responders, we can apply these truths to our lives each day. We must be hard workers and help the weak, giving them aid and blessing them with goodness. Even if they may treat us with disrespect or appear as enemies, we can pray for them and bless them. Remember, hurting people often hurt others. Even Jesus was reviled by those He came to serve and save. It cost Him His life, but the reward of seeing lost souls come into God’s family was worth it to Him. (Hebrews 12:2)
Prayer: Father God, thank You for serving me, even when I was self-centered and rebellious to You and Your ways. What a blessing I have received in adoption into My Father’s forever family. Use me to help the weak and give blessing to the hurting. Amen.
Love your enemies!
Scripture reading for January 7: Matthew 5
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of the Father Who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48
The current world-view in Jesus’ day was not much different than now: “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But Jesus taught a radically different way of living and loving. We are to love our enemies, do them good, and pray for them. This kind of love is how our heavenly Father loves us and all who hate Him. Jesus told how His Father gave rain on the land of the just as well as the unjust. Mercy triumphs over judgment and His goodness leads to repentance. By being like our Father, we may win over those who are centered on the world’s way of doing business. Our good deeds of love towards enemies may break through the hatred and reveal Jesus’ love in us.
This passage is part of Jesus’ ‘Sermon on the Mount’ where He teaches His disciples the blessed life of those in God’s kingdom. I struggled to change my thinking towards those who opposed me. The ways of our secular culture are deeply embedded in my thinking and behavior. Jesus Christ revealed to me His Father’s heart to reach all enemies and rebels. I am still wrestling with how to walk this out daily.
What view of dealing with your enemies do you hold today? How does this mesh with what Jesus revealed to His disciples? What one thing can you do today to show love to someone who you view as your enemy? Does this kind of thinking offend your sense of justice or fairness?
Prayer: Father, forgive me for my lack of love for those who I consider my enemies. Help me to love them as You do. Show me how to pray for them and act in their best interest. Amen.