Here’s How We Retaliate
As my readers know, I am a sunny skies, rainbows-after-rain, kind-of-writer, but it seems irreverent to not acknowledge the dark clouds that blew in when we heard about the unconscionable loss of lives in this diabolical war.
My heart cries out “Judge them, oh Lord!” What was Jesus thinking when He said, in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies! Bless them that curse you! Do good to them that hate you! Pray for them who spitefully use you and persecute you!” Quite frankly, I’d like to request that hail, fire, and brimstone be unleashed on those who have imposed this horrendous war. Lord, have mercy!
Now that I’ve had my venting moment, I must repent and remember Christ’s teachings to love despite the evil in our world, but we shouldn’t ignore praying with whole hearts for divine intervention.
In Psalm 69, David cries out to God about his enemies, “Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see and make their loins tremble continually. Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them.”
Whew! Don’t those words make us want to team up with David and say “Hit ‘em with your best shot, Lord?” Can’t we pray the way David did? Can’t we ask for God to pour out his wrath upon evildoers? Jesus showed up and flipped all that on its heels when He said: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
“Loving our enemies” doesn’t make sense in this world, but, oh, lest I forget, it’s a command from another world – an entirely different kingdom than this one. It is the “Kingdom of Heaven” world which is rooted in God’s own love for HIS enemies.
Here’s what that world looks like: Christ loved His enemies by feeding them, teaching them, and having compassion on them even when He knew they would later kill Him. This world — which is corrupt with evil people who continually refuse to follow Him, is the very same world Christ was sent to reconcile and redeem.
Christ came to earth to be a servant for the sake of His enemies so that they might know Him and come to love Him. With His dying breath, Jesus prayed for those who put Him to death. “And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34.
Jesus showed His great compassion and love for the world even while they hated Him. God’s eyes are not closed to the evil of this world. He will judge all one day.
May we continue to intercede for peace and for those innocent people in Israel AND Palestine who are living in terror for their lives. Lord, may our prayers be sincere with concern for those in harm’s way.
We aren’t being asked to go into combat or be on the front lines, but as Christ followers, God asks that we be front liners for Him. May we pray with a vengeance against the enemy who is set on stealing, killing, and destroying.
Here we are in the safety net of living in this incredibly free country of America. Those abroad dream to live here or at least for their country to have breakthroughs for freedom and peace.
We are the Body of Christ, the body of believers, and we are the army God called to represent Him to the world. Our presence on this earth is an assignment direct from Heaven Central. Our prayers prove God still walks the earth in the flesh of you and me. Lord, may we be Your hands, Your feet and Your voice.