Luke 6:28
“Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Luke 6:28 NIV
Outside the example of Jesus, this command makes no sense at all. But, Jesus shows us the importance of leaving our destiny in the hands of our Creator and Father. Suddenly, this makes perfect sense. What is the best way to defeat an enemy? Certainly it's not to beat or kill that person. No, the way we defeat our enemies is by having Jesus grace capture their hearts and having their character conform to that of our King.
Prayer has the power to change us. We can change as we see God's power work in people who have cursed and or hurt us, making them into better people. Seeing their change helps us to continue our changing to be more like Jesus.
However, even when folks don't change, prayer changes us as we offer ourselves to God for His service. As we open ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit as He is involved in our prayers, we praise God for the magnificent God He is and the incredible things He has done.
God can change our hearts as we seek to honor Him by doing what is right. In this case, what is right is praying for those for whom we wouldn't naturally want to pray. Such prayer is an act of faith and submission. Father, may what is accomplished be what You will, and may we overcome the bitterness at what was done to us.
While such prayer is unnatural, we are unnatural. We are God's spiritual children. Redeeming those lost in hate, bitterness, rage, and malice is important to us. Our goal is to have those who mistreat us find their way into the Kingdom and become our brothers or sisters in Christ. We must pray.
As we bless them and pray for them, they bless us even if they remain our enemies. As you love those who hate you, you come to understand the heart of God for a lost and rebellious world. An enemy can be a man's best friend. But it all depends on how we respond to their cursing words and bitter actions toward us.
True righteousness and godly love are two sides of the same coin, but neither are possible by human effort, strict training, mortifying of the flesh, or self-denial. True righteousness and unconditional, Godly love is the supernatural enabling of a child of God by the Spirit of God, through faith.
To love our enemies and to do good to those that hate us, is impossible in our own strength. Blessing those that curse us and praying for those that mistreat us without retaliation, is such a distinctive love that it is rare and beautiful and only exhibited in the lives of those that die to their own desires and live for the glory of God.
Prayer can do what we can’t do. And when we pray for and bless those who do bad things to us, we’re helping ourselves and them too. Instead of allowing people to hurt us, we’re forgiving and asking God to help them!!!
Father thank You for this day and the ability to love as You love. Lord open the floodgates of heaven and rain down Your abundant blessings over my friend and family today. Lord our love is sometimes hard and cold. We pray that we may die to self and live for You so that Your supernatural love may pour through us to others, to Your praise and glory. Lord give us the grace to love our enemies as you loved those who nailed You to the cross. Be a blessing love ya
Father we love You amen. !
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