Matthew 5:44 “… Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you…” and “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he’s thirsty, give him water to drink…”. It’s a command to love, even when it’s hard. Even when it doesn’t make sense, even when it…hurts. From the cross, Jesus chose a forgiveness born out of love. Forgiveness for the hands, having no mercy, that nailed Him to it. What happens when we imitate God’s unconditional love for our enemies? Our Spirit of Humility opens our eyes to see Truth. We don’t war with flesh and blood, but rather the spirits of darkness that rule this current world. This spirit of Humility commands the spirits of Pride and Arrogance, of Fear and Hatred to go…to leave us, setting us free to walk in the light of Truth and love. Through our obedience, we can’t even begin to imagine the power released from heaven, the power of love that changes hard hearts, moves mountains, a power that flows down with Goodness, Mercy and Grace. This world is not our own, our lives…are not our own. Just as Jesus came to do the will of His Father, we, too, are here to accomplish His plan and purpose. Jesus tells us there are 2 commandments that sum up the entire Law, love God and love others…no exceptions. And… when we can’t, God can. We don’t have it in us to love our enemies, and to pray for them, the ones who persecute us. But God, strengthens us, gives us His power to accomplish His purpose through love and obedience. Our prayers for those who persecute us…Lord, would You make Yourself real to them. Bless them with a ‘Road to Damascus’ experience. Would they see Your face and come to know Your Mercy. Break their chains, the ones keeping them in darkness that they would come to know and live in the Light.
