Blessing Our Enemies

Today, I’m writing about blessing our enemies. but I want to share something with you that has made me very sad over the last several years first. In fact, it started way before we entered into a pandemic. It’s the deep and polarizing divides we see among people nowadays. I guess we’ve always had divisions when it comes to controversial topics. It just seems much worse than ever these days. There’s no willingness to listen and understand each other. There’s much less respect towards other people that don’t agree with us.

What feels even worse to me is when I see this so much among brothers and sisters in Christ. We are called to live in unity and peace. And we do have a common goal that is of utmost importance – sharing Christ with the world! Yet, we are seeing each other more and more as enemies!

However, when I feel down and out about all of this, I’ve decided to focus on what I can control. Change starts within each of us individually, and I want to practice kindness and love more than ever right now towards all people. Also, some of my prayers this week are going to be for my enemies or those who always seem to be against me. Although, shouldn’t we really be praying for them continuously anyway? 

It is very challenging to truly pray for the best for our enemies. This is something I have to actively and intentionally pursue. 

Our human nature usually wants to pray that God will discipline them harshly, make them only agree with our points of view, and make them feel guilty for how they have hurt us. We may even want to judge them ourselves and take revenge. Yet, would we want God to handle all our offenses against Him this way? Or, do we always seek His mercy when we have offended Him?

Plus, where would we be without the blessing of Jesus interceding on our behalf! I know I’m thankful that God sent His Son to take away my guilt, not continuously remind me of it. I am thankful Christ took away the eternal suffering and separation from Him that I deserved. Each one of us has been offered a great gift in spite of our sins. God sent His Son out of great love and forgiveness. We are to show all others that same mercy, forgiveness, and love too.

Remember those in prayer who you feel have persecuted you. Ask God to bless them in the same way you would want to be blessed. Pray for reconciliation. Pray to understand how the other person is feeling and what they may be experiencing. Pray that they come to have faith in Christ if they don’t already. Pray God will help you to forgive them.