July 19, 2016

“But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. 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

“I have learned that an age in which politicians talk about peace is an age in which everybody expects war; the great men (and women) of the earth would not talk of peace so much if they did not secretly believe it possible, with one more war, annihilate their enemies forever.” Thomas Merton (The Pocket Thomas Merton, p. 35)

Nothing is harder than to love your enemies. Nothing. Try it some time, if you haven’t already. Of course, loving our enemies is not just a feeling, it is a doing – doing good things for those who hate you, persecute you, and actively work against you. When we see the terror and the horrible crimes against humanity that happen all around the world, and even in our own country, loving our enemies and praying for them comes home to roost right in our own homes, churches and lives. The only hope we have for turning evil into good or destroying evil for good is to pray for G-d to turn their hearts and to work actively to take the love of G-d into the realms of the evil one. And when it seems this is too hard, we remember the words of Paul – that we are “…clay jars (that carry the love of Jesus inside us), so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.”

This is how we love our enemies and pray for them.

Pastor Dave