Love Those You Claim To Be Evil

June 5th, 2021

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

~Matthew 5:43‭-‬44~

As the Lord walked this earth He sat amongst the ones who most wouldn't think twice about ignoring. He loved on those who went most of their life "not fitting in." Those who most would claim to be "more sinful then others." Really we are all sinners and we are all truely partaking in the evils of the world before Christ put us in our places, or perhaps some of us still do and do not even realize it all while pointing fingers at others. The devil loves to whisper to us that we are better then Tom, Dick or Harry is so that we may not truely put to death our own foolishness on the cross. To the Father, sin is sin. There is no difference between a murderer and a thief. There is no difference between a liar and an abuser. To God it is equally unholy, all reap the same judgement; "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

When we understand just how alike each sin is we can stop comparing ourselves to others and thinking that they are more in the wrong then we are. Jesus walked with true compassion and love. He came to die for all sin, not just for some. He loves all of His children and all of creation, for this reason He came; "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him." (I John 4:9)

Jesus clearly instructed us to pray for our enemies, to bless those who persecute us and use us. When we know Jesus, when we take on His image and die to our own thoughts and emotions each day; we can truely grow to love even the "worst of people" in our eyes. We may not understand why they do what they do but we do know that each one is one that God desires to be saved. We have the blessing of knowing God intimately enough that we can pray for those who we struggle to like because our prayers of love can move heaven and earth.

"But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil." (Luke 6:35)

Do we find ourselves thinking to be better then someone else? That's selfishness.

"For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:21)

Do we find ourselves judging others by their appearance? That's foolishness.

"O God, You know my foolishness; And my sins are not hidden from You." (Psalms 69:5)

Do we find ourselves secretly wishing ones who may have hurt us to stumble and fall? That's hatred.

"Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins." (Proverbs 10:12)

Do we struggle to pray for those who may have really hurt us or someone we love? That's immaturity in faith.

"as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."

(I Peter 2:2)

I'm being blunt yet truthful my friends. The more we grow in Christ and get to know His instincts, connecting ourselves to Holy Spirit and healing ourselves internally from any past trauma that may be keeping us locked down in bitterness; the quicker we will desire to pray for a murderer, an abuser, a liar or anything that may be abominable. For we will know and understand Christ's death on the cross was not only for us, it was for all. We will have a grasp of what hell is truely like and wish that nobody was to end up there. We will feel the love of God filling us and we will have no other feeling that to pray right away for the influence that is pressing upon them to be lifted. There is fleshly desire and their is demonic influence. When it becomes uncontrollable we know it is becoming far more then just flesh. Deception is heavy and we need to be at a point where we feel saddened by the ones who are used as pawns in Satan's twisted games. His desire is to seek, kill and destroy. We all have the freedom to choose yes, but there comes a point when evil is stemming from something far greater. Anyone is capable of being used by the devil, anyone at all. "But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Mark 8:33)

Peter, a man turning out to be an apostle of Christ himself, was used by the enemy. Say that Jesus just "claimed him as evil" and left it be without praying for him. Perhaps Peter would of never came back around? Perhaps less people would have seen God's glory through him after Christ ascended.

"But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

(Luke 22:32)

The Lord loves everyone, let us love everyone enough to pray for them. For if we cannot, how will they see Jesus? We cannot do it on our own but rather in the love of God within us. If we lack this area, we must get to know God more. We must ask Him to strip away our pride which causes us to point fingers one way and only pray for those we love. What good are we doing this world by only praying for the ones we want to pray for? We have a job to do brothers and sisters. We have a Lord to serve, who gave His life up for all sin all the while saying; “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

The same ones who were putting Him to death He was praying for in that moment. What gives us any right to claim others to be "just evil" when we ourselves are living in our fleshly way of thinking? I pray that we can begin to truely walk in the fullness of God. Speaking and acting in love that comes from above and putting away our selfish way of praying. Let us spend more time with Jesus, asking to see and feel just as He does. Eventually we will come into agreement with saying; “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours." (John 17:9)

There is so much peace in living this very way, the way of Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

Father God, I thank you for loving me enough to send forth Your only Son to die for my sin and my evil way of living. I am grateful to feel myself growing closer to You each day and replacing my own way of thinking and acting with the ways of Christ. I long to be in the fullness of Your love so that I may always pray for those I used to judge. Help me if I may be struggling now with bitterness or resentment. I know they are still Your children Father, and I pray that they may receive blessings and freedom from any wicked influence that may be on them. May those who do not believe be softened in their heart and come to the cross. I do not wish the lake of fire on anyone, even my worst enemy and I pray that more enter the Kingdom of Heaven with us. Whoever I may be trying to avoid praying for Lord, reveal it to me so I may feel the love You have for them. I am blessed to have a way to speak to You and I know that I have a job to do here for You and Your glory. I receive any chastisement that may grow me closer to the Lord's way of doing things. In Jesus Loving Name I pray. Amen.