Are You Praying for the People who Mistreat You?
Do you love them?
Jesus sure taught some challenging things.
"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:43-45)
Doesn’t Jesus know how challenging this is? Doesn’t He know our natural reaction is to want to respond similarly to those who insult us and mistreat us?
Jesus knows this.
But He calls us to be like our Father in heaven - the one who makes the sun shine on the good and evil alike. The one who sends life-giving rain on the just and the unjust.
God continues to give so much to us when we don’t deserve it. He continues to be merciful to us.
Followers of Jesus Christ are commanded to love their enemies - because loving their enemies imitates the Father's behavior.
So - are you actively trying to be like your Father?
Are you practicing love for your enemies?
Do you desire the best for those who wish the worst for you?
Do you do good to those who do hateful things to you?
Do you pray for those who say and do wicked things against you?