St Matthew 5:44

“But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.”

In today’s world are many wars and tragedies that have been caused by sin. These acts of sin cause us to develop rivals or enemies. The bible teaches that God has enemies who are in rebellion against him, and who have refused to obey him. However, God loved his enemy and gave himself for them. The Bible say’s in John 3: 16 That God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him will never perish but have everlasting life.

One of the greatest struggles in the Christian life is that of praying for the enemy that abuses, mistreats, oppresses, lies on and attacks you. Praying to God for the enemy is something that you just don’t want to do. This is no doubt one of the hardest things that we are commanded to do and must do.

Jesus said in St Matthew 5:44

“But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.”

This command is entrusted to the faithful followers of Christ that we may show unto an unbelieving planet that our God is God, and that he loves the world and desires relationship with them. As the ecclesia of the New Testament, the called-out ones for heaven, we are called to suffer in this season for the Master.

God has given us the privilege of entering into the fellowship of Christ and the sufferings of his cross. We are now able to be like Jesus and the saints of old, by enduring the enemies of today.

For now is the opportunity to show them that we love Jesus Christ and we are the light in a dark world. God has given us the privilege to identify with him today by dying to ourselves, our agenda’s and ideologies of an earthly kingdom.

He is calling his bride to identify with him by producing fruits of righteousness through the life of our suffering king. Our charge is one that can only be done through the Holy Spirit of Christ. He is calling us to another level of living and today we have the ultimate example of our Savior and King on how to pray for our enemies in this life. Here are a few important words to live by…

• We are a royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2;5) Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ
• We are to be a living sacrifice (Rom 12: 1-2) I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
• We are to be intercessors (Rom 12: 12) rejoicing in hope: patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.

If we are going to be Christ-like we must pardon all enemies, and realize that they don’t know what they are doing. Sin has blinded their eyes; they can’t see spiritually what they are doing. We must always remember that our Hero and Savior teaches us how to endure the sufferings of the cross. He is a great example for us to follow. Praying for the enemy may be hard, but by the power of God living in us we can do all things through Christ.

For Christ and His Kingdom

AW