MATTHEW 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not the tax collectors do as much? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You, therefore, must be perfect; as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Loving those who love us is easy even a nonbeliever can accomplish this; to exhibit Christ-like character we must be able to love those that persecute us as well. As a follower of Christ we must demonstrate love to all people; no matter what faith, nationality, or personality, even our enemies. We are to pray for those that persecute us as well, and by doing so, we reveal to God that Jesus is Lord of our lives. Now when someone has hurt our children, family, or us; this is impossible for us to attain by our own efforts. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we love our enemies. Jesus loved all of us the good and the evil; and when we love our enemy we live by a higher standard than that of the world.
Father, we are Your people, and we proclaim Your greatness, through our persecution and adversities. Lord, our Spirits rejoice in our Savior; for He has looked on His lowly servants with favor, grace and mercy. Father, You, have done great things for us through Your sacrifice on Calvary, and we are so grateful. Lord, just as You set our ancestors free from Egypt; please set us free from the oppression of our enemies, right now in the name of Jesus. Father, please scatter the proud in their arrogance, hatred, envy, and prejudice. Lord, cast down the unjust from their thrones and lift us up right now in the name of Jesus. Lord, we entrust ourselves entirely to Your loving care; Lord, our entire hope, happiness, anxiety, and difficulties we place in Your hands in Jesus name, Amen
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