Richard Wurmbrand, founder of The Voice of the Martyrs ministry told of seeing Christians in communist prisons with 50 pounds of chains on their feet, tortured with red-hot iron pokers, in whose throats spoonfuls of salt had been forced, being kept afterward without water, starving, whipped, suffering from cold, yet praying fervently for their communist torturers.
Later, as political winds changed, some of the torturers were thrown into prison with their former Christian victims, who, instead of taking vengeance treated them with love and kindness.
Do you wonder what could possibly have motivated those Christian prisoners to love and pray for their enemies?
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is 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.
Those are the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.
Do you think He was telling His hearers that the Old Testament says you are to love your neighbour but hate your enemy?
Look at the verses again.
You'll see that Jesus isn't saying the Old Testament instructed people to 'hate their enemies.' His words were, 'It is said.'
Jesus was referring to a false proverb that had been going around.
And He was setting the record straight, bringing back the truth that God has always loved His enemies and expects godly people to do likewise.
What is this 'love' that Jesus spoke of? It is not a 'warm, fuzzy feeling' for your enemy.
The word Jesus used for love means that you have a heartfelt desire for the good of the person being loved.
Yes, even your enemies!
Prayer for your enemies, abusers or persecutors cannot be worked up simply by knowing it is what you are supposed to do.
Maybe you wonder- Are there really any people in the Bible who loved their enemies like this? Jesus, in Luke 23:34. Stephen, in Acts 7:54-60. Paul, in 2 Timothy 4:16;Romans 12:20. Peter, in 1 Peter 3:9.
Is anyone bullying you?
Have you suffered from someone's unkind words or actions?
Are you feeling bitterness against another person?
Is there anyone you feel you cannot forgive?
Do you hate someone?
Do some quiet thinking and praying about what Jesus says in Matthew 5:43-45.
Ask God to give you the right attitude to pray for the one who has hurt you.
Now, pray for that person, believing what the Bible says in Philippians 4:4-7.
Daily Smile:
Don't steal, the Government hates competition!
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