It has been a long, short
week. Temperatures are down, which is
nice. Still, it is a physical struggle
early in the day when it reaches and passes well into the 80’s. I then try and do things that do not involve
working in the heat.
Not much going on today. Yesterday we enjoyed a dinner of Ken’s home
grown pork chops and Carla’s garden vegetables.
She didn’t plant hot peppers, but somehow one has creeped into her garden
– it was quite unexpected when bitten into and milk became the beverage of the
day.
Mathew
5:44 But I say unto you, Love
your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray
for them which despitefully use you, and persecute
you;
Of all the duties and
obligations and commands for a Christian this has got to be one of the more
difficult verses to obey.
When you are wracked with
physical pain and mental anguish because someone is attacking you and
undermining you, your family, your ability to function at your job, your
spirituality it is difficult to pray for them.
I know, I have been there.
I want to lash out, to take them
on – Not to be like minded, but to confront them with the truth and make them
defend their lies – and yes, I do have to admit, at times, to beat them to a
pulp.
That is, when I know they are
doing it, however, I have learned there are many that will not come out of the
shadows, they will hammer you from the darkness of anonymity spreading lies and
hatred when you have no idea it is coming.
It has to be so much worse for
those that are tortured, whose livelihood has been compromised, whose freedom
has been taken away from them. When
threats are made against not only them, but their families if they do not recant
their faith in Christ; watching the fear in their family as they don’t know what
is going to happen to them if you continue – and neither do you. It cannot be easy to pray for their
tormentors, yet many are doing that even today in some of the most horrendous of
times for Christians in those nations that abhor Christ.
I have a friend who is a manager
in a company. He recently was asked to
move his operations into a new building.
There was much to do and his time commitment was astronomical. Though separated from his bosses, he soon
found that many were attacking him. He
was committed to completing the mission, but was doing so at a tremendous risk
to his health.
While this was happening, I had
an occasion to briefly talk to him. He
did not disclose his unwarranted battle with some of his superiors, but I could
tell his health was at risk. I
attributed it to his longer hours establishing the business – that was part of
it.
Periodically I would send him an
e-mail letting him know I was thinking and praying about him. This morning I received an e-mail from him
which included the following:
“I wanted to thank you for your generous
notes and kind words. Thanks, too, for your prayers, which I am truly grateful
for. I need them. So much going on, and I'd say, heading in the right direction.
My faith is the only thing that has kept me going these last 7 years. Some day I
may actually share with you the trials I've experienced at the hands of my
employers. I almost died. Literally. I survived by praying for them, each,
individually - over time.”
He is no longer under the fist
of some of these individuals.
But as I read his e-mail this
morning a couple of truths came to me in light of Jesus’ command to “Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
Our response to people should
not be based on what they do to or for us, but on what Christ has told us. Praying for their souls, praying for them to
understand what they are doing to you and others, praying for them to
change.
Some will be changed, I have
heard many stories where those that have been persecuted were able to
demonstrate this command to their oppressors – and the tyrants repented and many
accepted Christ.
WE WILL be changed. Our hearts will be closer to God. He understands our predicament and He will
send His Holy Spirit to help us through.
That is why so many Christians are able to be at peace during and after
having endured horrendous treatment at the hands of their enemies, sometimes for
years.
Others, who may not be involved
in the torment, may see Christ in us and thus seek Him out, finding Him they
understand the strength He provides.
While we should not pray for
vengeance on the oppressor, God has made it clear that without repentance they
will eventually suffer for their sins, and in their failure to repent there will
be greater suffering on their part for their treatment of us:
Romans 12:19-21 Dearly beloved, avenge not
yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is
mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy
hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap
coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil,
but overcome evil with good.
Being a Christian is not for the
faint hearted. It is hard work when we
strive to live as He has instructed.
But, while the results are eternal life and recognition in heaven, the
goal should be to show Christ so others will come to Him for Salvation.
It is easier said than done, but
in the doing God does miraculous things in the hearts of those we touch and the
spirit within us is uplifted, rejoicing and joyful in the presence of God.
If I may also suggest, we need
to let people know we care for them – I had no idea of the struggles my friend
was going through, but it helped him knowing that someone was concerned and
praying for him.
Late, Art :-)
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