Today’s verse is short and easy to read but one of the hardest to obey. In His teaching on loving your neighbors, Jesus brings up enemies and commands us to pray for those who oppose us. There’s a country song called “I’ll Pray for You” that starts off good. The person recognizes they are being disobedient by not gathering with a church family nor praying. So, he makes a change and begins to pray. But, their prayers for their enemy (in this case, a girl that had broken up with them) aren’t what Jesus had in mind. They pray for “brakes to go out running down a hill” and for their enemy’s birthday to come and nobody calls and for their dreams to never come true, among other not-so-well wishes. When Jesus instructs us to pray for those who persecute us, we are to pray for blessing and reconciliation. We are to pray not only for repentance but restoration and healing. When we pray for our enemies, something in our hearts change, and our attitude towards them may improve. Who knows, we may realize that the discord is our fault!
Father God, help us to pray blessings over our enemies. Show me where the disagreement might be my fault. Give me the courage to repent and seek reconciliation. Help me to genuinely love my enemies. Help me to love those I disagree with politically and spiritually. Help me be a light that shines for Jesus! Amen.
Matthew 5:44: “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”
#MinuteWithMaxon #MWM #Pray31 #PrayFC #PrayCH #PrayCOS
Photo by Stillness InMotion on Unsplash
Scott Maxon 