We, as Christians, have the words of Jesus as a reminder to pray for those who persecute us. He said, "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." Matthew 5:43-45
That is a difficult command to follow, but Jesus is our Commander in Chief and when He gives us a command, we are obligated to obey. We don't have a choice if we are truly His followers.
During a recent Bible study, the discussion turned to ISIS and their murderous threats and ways. It is so much easier to hate them than to pray for them. But I reminded the ladies in the study that the Apostle Paul was once a terrorist. In the Book of Acts we can read about his "murderous threats". We know that he was at the stoning of Stephen. "At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him (Stephen), dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul." Acts 7:57-58
Yes, Saul (later known at Paul) was a witness to that stoning and in Chapter 8, verse 1 we read that Saul was there, giving approval to his death.
The death of Stephen resulted in a great persecution of Christians in Jerusalem and as a result, they were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Those who knew Jesus remembered His words to them: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." I have often wondered just how many of His disciples prayed specifically for Saul?
The persecution continued with Saul leading the way. Yes, Saul was a terrorist - his chief aim was to rid the world of Christians. Don't believe me? This is what the Word of God has to say about him: "Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' 'Who are you, Lord?' Saul asked. 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' He replied. 'Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do'." Acts 9:1-6
If you are a student of the Bible, you know that much of the New Testament was written by the Apostle Paul in the form of letters to various churches. His encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus changed his life and he became a devout Christian himself. How was this possible? I truly believe that Jesus met Saul face-to-face because Christians were praying for those who persecuted them.
Now if we believe that God is the same, yesterday, today and forever; then we have to believe that the prayers of believers for those who are persecuting them will still be answered. It is difficult to pray for ISIS, but we can pray for Jesus to meet them on their roads to Damascus. As they plot and plan to steal, kill and destroy, we can ask Jesus to reveal Himself to them - stopping them in their tracks and turning their lives around. Since Jesus is alive and in the business of answering prayer, He can reveal Himself to anyone at any time.
As the former terrorist, Paul, said to the church in Rome, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." (Romans 12:14) I can't think of a better way to bless ISIS than to pray for them.
That is a difficult command to follow, but Jesus is our Commander in Chief and when He gives us a command, we are obligated to obey. We don't have a choice if we are truly His followers.
During a recent Bible study, the discussion turned to ISIS and their murderous threats and ways. It is so much easier to hate them than to pray for them. But I reminded the ladies in the study that the Apostle Paul was once a terrorist. In the Book of Acts we can read about his "murderous threats". We know that he was at the stoning of Stephen. "At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him (Stephen), dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul." Acts 7:57-58
Yes, Saul (later known at Paul) was a witness to that stoning and in Chapter 8, verse 1 we read that Saul was there, giving approval to his death.
The death of Stephen resulted in a great persecution of Christians in Jerusalem and as a result, they were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Those who knew Jesus remembered His words to them: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." I have often wondered just how many of His disciples prayed specifically for Saul?
The persecution continued with Saul leading the way. Yes, Saul was a terrorist - his chief aim was to rid the world of Christians. Don't believe me? This is what the Word of God has to say about him: "Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' 'Who are you, Lord?' Saul asked. 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' He replied. 'Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do'." Acts 9:1-6
If you are a student of the Bible, you know that much of the New Testament was written by the Apostle Paul in the form of letters to various churches. His encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus changed his life and he became a devout Christian himself. How was this possible? I truly believe that Jesus met Saul face-to-face because Christians were praying for those who persecuted them.
Now if we believe that God is the same, yesterday, today and forever; then we have to believe that the prayers of believers for those who are persecuting them will still be answered. It is difficult to pray for ISIS, but we can pray for Jesus to meet them on their roads to Damascus. As they plot and plan to steal, kill and destroy, we can ask Jesus to reveal Himself to them - stopping them in their tracks and turning their lives around. Since Jesus is alive and in the business of answering prayer, He can reveal Himself to anyone at any time.
As the former terrorist, Paul, said to the church in Rome, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." (Romans 12:14) I can't think of a better way to bless ISIS than to pray for them.
