Is it Time?
Pray?? Wait. Are you asking me if I pray for THEM? Well, sure I do! I mean sometimes I do. Alright, I admit that I pray for THEM less than sometimes. Maybe hardly ever? Okay, so what! I bet you don’t either. In fact, I think most of us would like to forget about THEM altogether or at least pretend they don’t exist. Listen, I’m not referring to outer space aliens, an obscure hidden people group, or the in-laws. (Perhaps I am talking about the in-laws, but I hope not.) Drumroll, please. I’m referring to our ENEMIES.
Every time I read the Bible and see what Jesus taught us to do concerning our enemies, I feel convicted. He instructed His followers, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…” (Matthew 5:44) One of the first things Jesus taught His disciples was the exact opposite of what anyone actually feels like doing—ever!
Usually what we feel like doing is defending ourselves or hurting others. I admit I sometimes pray for justice to be served, instead of mercy to be shown. I find most people deny having enemies at all. It’s easy to fool ourselves if we just say, “I get along with everyone.” Then all we have to do is avoid anyone that we absolutely can’t stand. We also choose to stay away from anyone who offends us, curses at us, and hates us. When we have to be around people we despise, we sometimes quit our job, leave our church, or change our phone number. All seem to be viable options at the time. Believe me, I’ve considered them all. But then I remember His Words.
I marvel how Jesus could be hanging on a cross, in so much pain and agony, and say, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 24:34a) His enemies crucified Him, and Jesus appealed to His Father, asking for mercy for those who were killing Him! He prays, modeling what we are supposed to do. I used to think, yeah right, that’s Jesus praying and He’s God. But I read further along in the Bible, and I discovered one of His disciples did the same thing. Stephen, a follower of Jesus, was being stoned to death by those who accused him of blasphemy, and even he prayed for those who killed him. His last words were, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” (Acts 7:60) The apostle Paul watched Stephen’s death, even consented to it, and later surrendered his life to God. Stephen’s prayers were answered! More importantly, when Jesus prayed forgiveness for those who crucified Him, He prayed for us.
I think Jesus meant business when He told us to love and bless our enemies.The conviction I’ve been feeling lately requires a heart change. Often, I think if I just change my behavior towards someone….if I stop avoiding them….if I just smile and show kindness, that will be pleasing to God. But He bypasses what we do and looks directly into our hearts for why we do it. Do I truly want to follow in His steps?
If pleasing God is my sincere desire, my heart must make a u-turn towards Him. I think just admitting that I have enemies is humbling, but in this place of humility I encounter the grace of God to ask Him for forgiveness. I realize He said it all for a reason. He told us to love, bless, do good, and pray for our enemies because He knows our hearts better than we do. Jesus knew the last people on earth His followers would lift up in prayer would be their enemies, so He commanded us to do so. Some choose to listen and follow through. It’s our choice. I know it’s time for me to pray for my enemies. How about you? Will you pray for your enemies?
