Some days ago, I was with a group of people and we
encountered a person who had cheated me badly many years ago. It was apparent
that life wasn’t dealing very nicely with him, and the people around me noticed
it. I wasn’t interested in any of the chitchats because I didn’t want to have
to say hello to him. I may love him, because the love of God is shed abroad in
my heart by the Holy Ghost which I have (Romans 5:5) and I am not capable of
hate; but I do not like him and I do not have to pretend that I do. So I did
not talk to or say hello to him. But when someone by me made a comment about
his sorry state, I thought in my heart that it served him right. I mean, “Anyone who did what he did should not move
forward in life.” So I thought. But God didn’t think so. In fact, a few
minutes later, God told me, “Temi, you
have to pray for him.”
“Pray for him? No!
Of course not. What kind of prayer am I to pray for him?” That was the
least thought that could have naturally crossed my mind. I knew God was talking
to me, and I know how He gets to me. He gave me a scripture – Luke 6:28b, “...and pray for them which despitefully use
you.” Boom!!!
“OK. I understand
that Lord. But I have forgiven him. I have moved on and I do not even remember
that this individual exists. So why do I need to bring him up again in prayers?”
God so merciful made me understand that when I forgave
him, and when I healed, and when I moved on, I did all that for myself. But
when I pray for him, I do that for him – it means I consciously ask God to do
something good for him. That is love at its peak. Remember Romans 5:8? “…in that while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us.” Now I had no choice. I
had to pray for him. And I did … today … almost a week later. Haha.
I’ve pondered on this phrase from Luke 6 since that day
last week and I believe strongly that God wants someone who’s reading this to
do the same too.
First, let’s examine that scripture from verse 27,
because that’s where the sentence begins in the King James Version of the
Bible.
“But I say unto
you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them
that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” Luke
6:27-28.
In the above passage, Jesus highlights four categories
of least likely people that you should express varying degrees of kindness to.
First are your enemies. Enemies are those who do not
like you and who ordinarily do not wish you well. They may or may not cause you
physical harm, but they definitely do not want you to prosper. God says to love
them. We all agree that it’s really difficult to love people who are apparently
our enemies.
Those who hate you aren’t very much different from your
enemies. However, they may be a little bit more scary than your enemies because
those who hate you can pretend to be your friends and perpetrate evil that
could cause you harm. Jesus says, “Do
good to them. Be like your Father and be kind to them (Luke 6:35-36).” God
help us!. Jesus, really??? Arrghhh!!!!!!!!
Next are those, who beyond secret or obvious hatred, go
to the extent of placing curses on you. Jesus says, “Bless them.” I personally
do not find this one particularly hard to do, because I understand the scriptures
that say Christ was made a curse for me (Galatians 3:13) so I can’t be cursed,
and that a curse causeless will not come to stay (Proverbs 26:2). So that’s not
too hard. They, in fact, need blessings. Hehe.
But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He goes on to say we
should pray for some people. They are the least likely ones that deserve any
act of kindness, but Jesus says, “Pray for them.” Those which despitefully use you – pray for them. “Wow!!! Why LORD, why? Not these ones! They
are worse than enemies, haters, and cursers put together. They express their
hatred, disdain and contempt for me with all they’ve got.” They do not deserve
mercy. We all know that. Even God agrees. But really, who does? Now that you
have Jesus, God says, “Pray for them.”
I know it’s difficult. But God will give you the
strength to, just like He did me tonight. I mentioned the names of several
people who have despitefully used me over the years and prayed for them from my
heart. It is for them, but trust me, you’ll benefit from it too.
---
So, you my sister friend who was/is being sexually
abused, Jesus says, “Pray for him/them who abused/s you.”
And to you who was a victim of pedophilia. It’s really
horrible. I agree. And Jesus agrees too, but He says, “Pray for him.”
That lover boy who was exploited by the girl he loved.
She drained you of all your cash – owned and borrowed. It super hurts; but oh
please, pray for that sister. She needs Jesus.
Oh dear reader, who is despitefully used every day by
your boss. You understand errands better than you understand how to do what you
were trained for. You probably went to the company to develop your IT skills,
and what you have developed is your tenacity to stand in long queues at the
bank. You understand the various dimensions of a bank queue at different hours of
the day than you understand the various sizes of an A4 or A3 paper. Coupled
with that, rather than have you improve on your programming skills, your boss
prefers you improve on your driving skills because he wants his family to be in
safe hands while you chauffeur them to and fro the airport. Yeah, and your
salary never comes in on time too. It’s unthinkable, but Jesus says, “Pray for
him.”
And to that maid – (she probably won’t be able to read
this because she’s not even allowed to eat on the dining table with the kids,
let alone touch a computer). She gets whipped for crimes she did not commit –
crimes her “madam” knows the kids committed. If you know her, will you please
tell her that Jesus says she should pray for her boss?
However you have been despitefully used, abused, or
insulted, Jesus is telling us that our forgiveness isn’t complete until we’ve
prayed for these ones who do not deserve our prayers.
Please, will you pray with me?
Dear Lord Jesus, I
thank you loving me and for teaching me this hard truth today. I pray for (mention their names here). Please bless him/her.
If he/she isn’t saved, please, let him/her come to know you and accept your
gift of salvation. If he/she is in trouble, please, deliver him/her. Send
helpers to him/her. Make him/her fruitful. If he/she feels bad about what
he/she did, please, help him/her to forgive him/herself. This I pray from my
heart Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
