Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Pray for Your Enemies


Luke 6:27-28 & 36 (NLT)
   “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you…..36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Father this is something I really need help with. It is certainly beyond my own human ability or inclination to treat the enemies of humanity in this way. I shudder at the thought of showing any mercy toward those who violently victimize the innocent to the extermination of all who would oppose their evil genocidal intentions.

Father I need to remember that you are not only a God of loving compassion but also Holy Judgment as Paul so clearly wrote in Romans 12:19-21 (NLT) Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD. 20 Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” 2 1Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”

Father for those who oppose You and all that is righteous “There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. Hebrews 10:27 (NLT) Indeed Father as the Scripture boldly says: “It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:31 (NLT)

So Father I pray for the conversion of the enemies that are so fierce in their hostility to you and the world You created and love. May they somehow perceive the evil of their ways, the mercy of God that is available for all and turn from their sinful hatred to Christ alone who is the only Savior and yes died even for them. Father your grace is unlimited and your judgement unrelenting and eternal. I pray they will choose grace.

And I ask this Father in the Name of Jesus who changed Saul of Tarsus from an agent of hate to an instrument of grace.

Amen

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1 comment:

  1. AS you mentioned to me....this could be a sermon. I love the truth of it....but it's hard to put into practice. Only the grace of God.

    ReplyDelete

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