But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
Matthew 5:44 NLT
This had to be the hardest command of Christ to a nation inhabited by an enemy and a nation who had, in the past, been commanded to completely destroy their enemies. What had changed?
Jesus was the factor for change. He came as God in the flesh, and He was about to empower them to fulfill this command. The Holy Spirit inside of a believer is the ability to love the unlovely. Corrie Ten Boom found this when faced by the very man who had made her, and her sister Bessie suffer in a prisoner of war camp. Her persecutor came to Christ. This was the best justice she could wish for. Satan had lost a tool for destruction.
Many are facing, or will face this exact same thing. As the war in Ukraine turns against the enemy, the Ukrainians are being challenged not to hate but forgive. Unless they have Christ they will struggle.
We will struggle without God's Holy Spirit. He empowers us to forgive so that we will also be forgiven our sins. Amen!
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