ON THE PRAYER ALTAR

DAY 171

Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Many often take the words of Jesus lightly until they come to understand exactly what He was communicating. Anytime I have read today’s text, the message that has to mind in that doing the bare minimum is not enough.

If you think that is an easy feat, then perhaps you have not considered the exact requirements of this charge Jesus gave. For context, this is the definition of an enemy: “a person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another”.

That sounds like the kind of person you wouldn’t want anywhere near the perimeter of your life and rightly so. The charge by Jesus is to maintain a pure state of heart towards such, not to fraternise with them. You often do not have any positive expectations from an enemy because their assignment is to thwart and be an obstacle evey step of the way.

It is therefore wisdom to be circumspect in dealing with anyone whose intentions towards you have been clearly defined as ‘against you’. Keep them on your altar of prayer, don’t simply draw them into your inner sanctum.

#sly