Welcome to Day 32 of the 40 Days of Return to the Lord. Since I was a child, I have always heard of the persecution of the church both in my nation and in the nations of the world. There is a tendency for the followers of Jesus in the 21st century to expect a smooth ride all the way in the journey of faith. But you need to know that If Jesus was persecuted and killed for no crime, what do you think people will do to you who believe in Him? Love you?
You are Called to Bless
It is easy to bless those who love you, like your friends. Is that not so with you? Your friends are so sweet and helpful, you always want them around you. Not so with enemies, they are not sweet at all. They don’t want to help you, rather they are interested in pulling you down. Jesus tells you in Matthew 5:44 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. There are four instructive responses for your enemies, the first is to love them, bless them, do good to them, and pray for them. Doing all these brings immeasurable prosperity. When you do all these you are working in forgiveness towards your enemies, which also qualifies you to obtain mercy and forgiveness from God. The truth is that there are too many curses in operation in our world, you should take it upon yourself to set blessings in motion around you, take time to profess blessings in Jesus’ name. Stop thinking and saying ill of yourself and others, change your confession to line up with the will of God.
How can I Possibly Love Someone who Hates me?
You can love those who hate you because you are born again and you belong to the God who is love. The love of God is on the inside of you. Those who don’t know the Lord can not do this, it is impossible for a natural man, in fact, he can not understand it. The love of God is in your heart because scriptures say that the love of God is shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit. God’s kind of love that was poured out on you while you were still an enemy of God. You have the ability to love just like your Father in heaven. He won’t ask you to do a thing that is impossible. If you know someone that hates you, find out about something good you can do to meet their need.
The love of God is demonstrated to us all through all that Jesus suffered on earth and His ministry in heaven at the right hand of God. You can show some love by doing something good for your enemies, instead of trying to avoid them. Close the gap with God’s love. Send them a message, help them when they are in need, smile with them instead of frowning, let your words be gracious towards them, rather than mock them when evil happens, show some concern, and share in their sorrow.
It is natural to want to fight back, and answer them in their words and become unkind but the love of God in you is constantly seeking an opportunity to be expressed. People might tell you all manner of unspeakable things done against you behind your back or even before your very face by your enemy to provoke anger within you. Your flesh wants to pronounce a curse on those who cause you harm while the Spirit of God says to bless them. There is a constant battle going on between your flesh and the Spirit of God. Your spirit is filled with love, while your flesh is desiring to avenge but let love win all the time. As you commit yourself to constant meditation on scriptures, your mind is being renewed to be like that of God. It gradually becomes a lifestyle to love always.
Do Good to Your Enemies
It is normal to be nice to your friends but doing good to your enemy is not so lovely. Sometimes they may turn your good towards them down, but as you remain steadfast that will become history. Seek the opportunity to meet their needs. send them birthday wishes and gifts. As we find a perfect example in Christ who died for all humankind while we were His enemies, He gave his life for us all along with many gifts for life and godliness. Only for you to get all these benefits as you come to the knowledge of God. The act of doing good to one’s enemy is a character of God which we must emulate as children of God. Everybody can not possibly love you, so it is expected that you will have enemies. Those working hard to cause you harm and to pull you down. Break the evil chain of hatred, racism, abuse, and discrimination in your world by being Christlike in your response. The good you do to others will someday speak for you in places you least expected, so be encouraged to do good to your enemies. Sometimes they can’t look you in the eye but they know that you are of God. Treat people with care, like you would want others to do to you.
Pray for your Enemies
Prayer is talking to God, so praying for your enemies is talking to God about your enemies, not complaining to God about them or what they have done to deserve a punishment, but mentioning their names before God and blessing them in the name of Jesus. This becomes easier as you start praying rather than holding a grudge against them. God sometimes uses this to reveal the state of your heart, so that you can ask Him for help to become more like Him. As Stephen knelt down breathing his last as he was being stoned to death he prayed his last prayers, not for himself or family but he prayed for his enemies, he said, ‘Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died’. What a life! May God help you and me to be like Him, turning the hearts of our enemies to God in friendship.
Bless those who Persecute you
The church of Christ has suffered persecution until now because the kingdom of our God contradicts the kingdom of this world. The world system is ruled by the devil while the kingdom of God is ruled by God. Christians will experience persecution, that will arise as you seek ways to establish God’s kingdom in your places of influence, like your family, neighborhood, workplace, and school. The instruction we received is to bless those that persecute us. Again Stephen was a man like you, he suffered and died for his faith in Jesus. As he was being persecuted, he blessed his persecutors, he didn’t ask God to send down angels to destroy them all. You must understand that the persecution you are experiencing is for a purpose, for you to bless and not curse your enemies, so that in blessing them they might come to the knowledge of Christ. Saul of Tarsus who was one of his persecutors finally came to know the Lord and gave us all an example to follow in Christ! Thank God Stephen blessed him and the others. Ask God for how you can partner with Him in your persecution to fulfill His will. God wants your persecutors to come to Him. May the Lord continue to keep you in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Shalom!
