DAY 34 – OCT 19
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Matthew 5:43-44
During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said many things that are very counter-cultural. Among them is this challenging statement. An example of how this looks is the story of a pastor imprisoned for his faith in Romania in the 1960s. He was kept in a cell with non-believers, and while all were beaten, the Christian leader was singled out for special abuse by the chief torturer. As often happens in totalitarian regimes, this torturer was later arrested for an offence, and as punishment was thrown into the same cell as the men he had abused. He was quickly surrounded and certainly would have been beaten to death. However, the pastor shielded his former torturer from the blows and saved his life. When asked by his fellow prisoners why he protected his tormenter, the pastor shared the Gospel and how Jesus said to love your enemies. A great many people came to Christ as a result of the pastor’s action.
We Pray: God, You are a gracious and loving Father. While we were still Your enemies, You sent Christ to die for our sins (Romans 5:8-10). If we are to love like You, we must forgive like You. Even if we don’t face persecution, empower us through your Spirit to love those who are different than us. We thank you for this in Jesus’ name. Amen.