enemies

The last few nights, I have had dreams that included a person who was so unfair and mean to me that I had hoped I would never see them again. They probably wanted me dead. Not because of who I was, but because of Christ who dwelleth in me. I do my best to live my faith out loud. Ya know? They might have been part of the inspiration behind my novel, Kill the Preacher Man. (Available on my website, bradymarka.com.)

After I woke up this morning and had another one, I asked God, “Why?” He quickly whispered, “I want you to pray for them.” It is part of my spiritual practice to pray for people when I think of them. Especially ones thought of out of the blue. Honestly, I would rather not pray for this person, but I can’t ignore what God told me to do. I must obey.

This person’s sisters once told me that their mother took them to church regularly. That told me they knew of God. The problem is they are striving like crazy to do life their way, but it isn’t working, and they are extremely angry about that. So you see, they weren’t warring with me but God.

²⁷“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. Luke 6:27-28 (ESV)

“So, God, I pray for the individual you have brought to my mind. I pray that they stop resisting your love and they run into your waiting arms. Help them, Father, to know your forgiveness is waiting for them. Give them the strength to believe you and to stop listening to the lies of the devil. May they find the people you have put in their life, and may those people help them to get back into a Bible-preaching, love-flowing church. Thank you, God. Amen.”

I don’t like them in the rain. I don’t like them on a train. I wouldn’t like them if they had a fox. I wouldn’t like them in a box. I don’t like them at all, Cam. I don’t like them, Sam, I am! (Thank you, Dr. Seuss, for the inspiration.)

Life can be challenging without them, so what are we to do with our enemies? The ones whose lives, how they live and act, we can’t stand. The ones we should be able to be around in peace and safety, but their words or actions hurt us anyway, usually when we least expect it. They attack us. And sometimes, these are the ones we share blood with. How should we respond?

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. Mat. 5:43-47 (MSG)

God’s word instructs us to pray for them. That can be hard to do, especially when we want to fight back. When we want to get revenge on them, God says it is his. Honestly, getting even doesn’t do anything but make matters worse.

Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.” Rom. 12:17-19 (MSG)

I have written about revenge before. (Have You Considered? ) In a nutshell, when God gets revenge on someone who has hurt us, He slowly removes his hand from their life. His hand protects from the devil. He does this in hopes that it will move them to Him and not further from Him, like Job in the book of Job. If an enemy accepts God and His love, they might begin to act like Him. They might start acting in love.

Praying for your enemy will help you put things in perspective, and it also helps adjust your attitude toward them as well. Giving the hurt and pain to God is the best place for it. He will deliver you, and before you know it, you will be eating a six-course meal in front of them. (Psalms 23:5 MSG)

brady, mark a.

Words to inspire you

Enemies

²⁷“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. Luke 6:27-28 (ESV)

People Landmines

Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.” Rom. 12:17-19 (MSG)

27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. Luke 6:27-28 (ESV)

Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.” Rom. 12:17-19 (MSG)

²⁷“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. Luke 6:27-28 (ESV)