Matthew 5:43-48 Love Your Enemies (NKJV)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 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, 45 that you may be sons of your Father 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. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Pray for your enemies. How can you pray for someone when the answer to that prayer would go against the desires of your heart? That is my challenge. While I don’t really have enemies, there are a lot of people who do not share my values. I find myself at odds with them over our differences of opinion. I have a great deal of trouble with people who are not nice to children. My challenge is that I need to pray for someone who has been cruel to several children.
Jesus is setting the standard way higher than I am able to reach on my own. He wants us to love our enemies. He asks us to pray for people who hate us. Does He really think I can do that? I am hoping He will help me because I cannot do it on my own. And on top of that, He wants me to be perfect. Yeah right! When I was fourteen, I had reached the apex of perfection. It has been all downhill from there.
So I am supposed to pray for the person who has harmed others. I get that. But my prayers are supposed to be for their deliverance from addiction and their restoration. That is a good prayer. However, if my prayers are answered in a positive manner, I may lose what is of great value to me. I am praying against myself and my interests. It’s like praying for someone else to win the race in which I am running. It seems so counter intuitive. But that is God’s way. He wants to see that you will do that which seems too difficult in order to follow His lead. Since I know my desires are not pure, I pray that His will be done. His will is best for all because He will work everything out for god for all. Yes, someone wins and someone loses this particular challenge. But God can still work everything out for good.
Years ago, we had a foster child that we wanted to adopt. He ended up going back to his father instead. We were very disappointed and grieved the loss. We had poured everything we had into him but he did not stay. He still visits from time to time. The good news is that all the seeds we planted in him are still there. Life may not be perfect but he remembers the love and truth he learned years ago. He knows how life should be and can live that way when he gets out on his own. God’s plan will not be thwarted! His word does not return to Him void. Keep on planting the seeds God gives you even if you cannot see the results. God will give an increase. His grace will manifest itself in each life you touch. It did for us. It will for you. Our foster son still visits and realizes all we have done with and for him. He is forever changed as are we. Our God worked all things out for our good even if it wasn’t our way. He will do the same for you.
Father God, we know Your plan is always for everyone’s good. But even so, we have trouble with the twists and turns of life. We see things going badly. Show us Your long term plan for our good. Keep us calm while You work out Your plan. Remind us of Your love so we can wait for Your redemption and grace. In Your name we pray! Amen!