Love and Pray for the Persecutor

Discipleship and Mission

Call to Discipleship

Called to Humility and Hospitality

Matthew 5:43-48 The Message

43-47 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
48 “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

For Reflection

"Geez, I hate her.  What a pain! She dominates everything."

"Do you hate her? Or do you hate what she does?"

"Same thing!"

No, it's not. Denigrating her personhood is akin to murder, especially when you vocalize your judgment to others. At that point, the situation becomes about you not her. You have established yourself as her judge. If you wanted to face the truth about yourself, you would recognize that that emotion she has evoked in you reveals your lack of humility and compassion. When you see yourself as superior to her, you limit your capacity to be of any help at all.

God designed you to be able to find creative ways to express your love for her. Your willingness to accept her as she is may encourage her to become less defensive.

Pray

Pray so that you be more able to find a creative way to work with the people you perceive to be difficult.

Forward to a friend