The End is Near

Events are still unfolding in Boston.  One of the Marathon bomber suspects is dead and another, his 19 year old brother, is on the run with hundreds of police and military personnel working to apprehend him.

The end is near.

Either the brother will be caught, killed or will disappear.  But, one way or another this terrible saga will be over, at least for a time.  I am still convinced that we will not receive the answer we desperately want to understand - Why?  Nonetheless, we will all breathe a sigh of relief, even while grief still holds our hearts in its grip, that these criminals have been stopped.

But, what about the next enemy?  When will another individual choose terror and murder as the path for their life?  How do we protect ourselves from these enemies?

The importance of our well trained and courageous law enforcement can't be overstated.  I'm so thankful for the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep us safe from our enemies.  We must always pray for them, for their safety, for their families.

But from a spiritual perspective, what are we to do about these enemies?  Scripture is clear.  We are to pray for our enemies.

In Matthew, Chapter 5, Jesus tells us:

"love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"

It seems absurd in this situation doesn't it?  The Alpha and Omega, the Word who has been present since the beginning of time and will be present for eternity, knew that we would need to hear and heed those words in this perilous time in history.  Why would Jesus tell us this?

“You have heard that 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."

We pray for our enemies so we may be sons of God.  We pray for ALL because ALL are God's children and He grieves over the Lost.

If you believe in the power of prayer, then you should be committed to praying for our (and your) enemies.  I believe Jesus also knew that we would need to battle spiritually against the dark forces in this world that would threaten our very existence.  He knew there is no greater power than believers fervently praying to the Father for help, deliverance, protection and praying as interceders for the Lost.

We must pray for our enemies.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will enter their hearts and lives so that hatred and evil would be replaced by love and God's goodness.  Pray that those who are Lost and vulnerable to be used by Satan for evil would instead be found by the God who loves them so much He sacrificed His own Son for them so they might be saved.

That kind of prayer is the way to change hearts, and changing hearts is how we make the world better.

Pray for your enemies.

Be love and be blessed,