Love Neighbor And…by Anonymous
Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
The idea of praying for your enemies is perhaps one of the most radical ideas Jesus put out there. In the time of the ancient Jews, the “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” system of justice reigned supreme. Embracing and praying for those who had wronged you was surely heresy to those who heard Jesus suggest it.
And, truth be told, it doesn’t sit too well with most modern-day people either. Is there anyone who doesn’t hold at least one grudge in need of letting go? I am by no means an expert on forgiving, but the Bible tells me that God loves every one of his children – even the meanest, most evil being on the planet. That also means he loves the person who stole your high school sweetheart, or, as I have discovered, the neighbor who deliberately excluded my children and me from her social circle.
Being full of hate and anger made me miserable, and it certainly didn’t do anything to change the situation. So whenever I thought of this woman and the pain her actions caused me, I prayed that God would help her with whatever challenge she was facing at that moment. Over time I found that praying for her helped me feel less angry and less sad. At Christmastime last year, she approached me with a heartfelt apology for her actions. I’d like to say we’re friends again, but we’re not. But at least there is a peace between us – a peace I credit to God at work as I struggled to love my enemy and to pray for one who had persecuted me.