Wednesday, August 12, 2015

They Deserve the Least Act of Love, but Jesus Says to Pray for Them



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.
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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.

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