Enemies

Enemies

“You have heard it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor 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 causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:43-45 NASB).”  

Definition: A person who feels for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another; an adversary or opponent (Dictionary.com).

Spiritual proximity and physical proximity are different things. God wishes we draw near to Him, but until we do we are at enmity with Him; separate. Jesus enables us to have access to God because He took the sin, wrath and enmity on Himself. Hatred seems innate in us: when we don’t get our way, when our expectations go unmet and especially when we are or we feel wronged – we hate. God so loved the world, but the world hated Him, and will hate us; we are to be in the world, but not of the world. We should endeavor to reach the worldly and love them, but not choose that path or be enticed by it. We should not feel envy and intrigue for any misdeed or evil way, but be full of compassion and love – we should lead the lost to the truth but not follow them into sin. Resist the devil and his tactics even if it means leaving the company or place where unjust things are happening, but we should never stop reaching out toward or loving the lost and broken, even our enemies, for they too are loved by God and He wishes none should perish.

Prayers: Thank You for freedom from sin and all of its affects. We pray our child will not miss Your call to freedom. We ask for help in guiding our child to You and Your ways. When our child finds you we pray no pride will ensue over being grafted in, but compassion will flourish toward the lost and broken.

We pray our child understands what being separate means: to separate from the World's ways and cling to Yours. May being in Your presence be what motivates and moves our child, not being separate from the presence of unbelievers.

We pray love would be the connection and conversation our child extends to the world and prayer to You on their behalf, even for those who persecute. May it be that our child be less caught up with the position of being grafted in and more enthralled with the proximity and connection with You forever by Your grace.
Thank You for Your help and blessings.