I Want to Bring Back the Dinosaur of Early Christian Enemy-Love

Daily writing promptIf you could bring back one dinosaur, which one would it be?View all responses

The early Christians radically loved and forgave their enemies. That’s a dinosaur that needs to be brought back into our hate-filled world.

To love your enemies, as Jesus commands, (Matthew 5:44) you must embrace a deeper reality. To “bless those that curse you,” and “pray for those who mistreat you,” (Luke 6:28) you must rely on Christ and “lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5) To “do good to those who hate you,” (Luke 6:27) take a first step by praying for them.

Dare to demonstrate true discipleship by blessing an enemy at this very moment. Think of someone who has done or is doing you wrong. Now ask God to bless that person. You probably don’t feel like doing that but do it anyway as an act of obedience and discipleship. Then every time that person comes to your mind ask God to bless him or her. Say: “Lord, I ask You to bless (name the person). Bless his health. Bless his finances. Bless his family. (And on and on) Help him get to know You in a deep personal way. In Jesus, name. Amen.”

Consistently praying for an enemy will powerfully set you free from the pain, anger, and resentment that are attacking you. I do it every time I feel wronged or mistreated and it flushes my heart of the ugly bitterness that tries to take me over.

Yesterday I found a quote about praying for your enemies. When I woke up this morning that quotation was on my mind. Here it is:

“If you would retain prayer you must love those who offend against you and pray for them until your soul is reconciled with them, and then the Lord will give you prayer without ceasing, for He gives prayer to those who pray for their enemies. The man who loves his enemies soon comes to know the Lord in the Holy Spirit. But the man who does not love his enemies is to be pitied, for he is a torment to himself and to others and does not know the Lord.” –Father Silouan

Here’s more of the thoughts that have been coming to me this morning:

If you want a better world then help people live and behave better through your influence.

If you want to be whole
Let Jesus seize your soul.
Make it your lifelong goal
To always live and stroll
As led by His Spirit.

Create Inner Peace

To appreciate
The significance
Of magnificence
And sense its wonder
You need to ponder
The beauty that you
Too often don’t see
So that you can be
Emotionally
And mentally
Free
And tormenting thoughts
Will no longer reign
Inside of your brain.
The more you’re in awe
The more the hardness
Of your heart will thaw
As closer you draw
To true inner peace.
Beholding beauty
With an open heart
Will cause you to see
A much deeper
Reality.