Luke 6:27 and 28 takes us to Jesus who says to all, "But I say to you who listen, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." (Now aren't those words to chill our hearts in these days of ISIS enemies!)
These words of Jesus are some of the most difficult for humans to realistically do. When we are abused or hated, our natural human inclination is to retaliate in word and deed. (Bring in the big bombs!) How can we possibly in real life bless them? Only through the power of the Holy Spirit that lives in us. He is there! If we are not walking with Jesus we have no power to love our enemies and pray for them.
When we're faced with the horror of events like 9/11/2001, only God in our hearts can cause us to pray for those who did such evil, or will continue to do evil as was done that day. I acknowledge I would find it hard to pray for someone who had killed or raped my family.(Jerry's thoughts) Yet Jesus says, "If you would be my disciple you have to be different than what the world would expect." He says to me, "Jerry, you must pray for those who curse you and abuse you and yours."
Lord Jesus, This is a very hard teaching for us. Give us your power of forgiveness for those who abuse us, as you have forgiven us for our abuse of you. Amen.
Jo INMN
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