“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I tell you, Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5: 43-44)

One very important message of Jesus is the need to show love, demonstrate peace, and create harmony in our world. Unfortunately, this is not a popular sermon nowadays. The reason is that so many people are presently occupied with personal problems solving, rather than issues of general concern. But while we tend to focus on our personal problems, we forget to realize that the problems we are facing exist simply because our world is sick and needing healing as well. The fact is that, what affects the world, affects us directly, hence we ought to pray for peace, harmony and love in the world. Any wonder then that we are requested to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for in that lies our own peace as well as the peace of the whole world. Scriptures also command that we pray for the prosperity of the land where we dwell, for in that lies our own prosperity. Every Believer has Christ inside of him/her; Christ is the hope of glory, to whom we must turn at all times for help. .

Today’s word says we must pray for our enemies and those who want us dead, thereby leaving vengeance to God. In any event, whatever we give out is what we receive. Refrain henceforth from discharging curses on your enemies. Such prayer rarely works on the enemies; rather, it bounces back to the one who says it. Jesus says, the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them from the penalty of eternal death.” (Luke 9: 55-56) The crude desire to terminate lives is not the spirit of Christ however culturally pervasive it has become and notwithstanding who stands on the pulpit to advocate for such. This is a difficult thing for some to accept but the words of Jesus are incontrovertible. Therefore, before you start to pray, forgive your enemies. Do not invoke curses or ill wish on anyone in prayers. Rather, bless your enemies. Our problems are usually not solved when we curse people in prayers; they get complicated and are never solved in God’s own way. Christianity is all about imitating Jesus Christ, and following his footsteps. Jesus tells everyone; “if you love me, keep my commandments.” On the surface, this might not make sense to us. But it is yet another counter-intuitive teaching of Jesus. It only begins to make sense when we realize that without faith, it is difficult to please God. To have faith is to believe that obedience to God’s word will bring us reward, rather than condemnation.

Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I thank you for Jesus Christ. Lord, give me the power to recognize my authority in Christ, and to live a life befitting a truly anointed one of God. I declare that Christ in me is the hope of glory; a ready help in time of needs. I declare my faith is built on Jesus, His love and righteousness. AMEN.