"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets." Luke 6:26
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1John 4:1
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 3 John 1:11
Prayer for Enemies
Lord Jesus Christ, Who didst command us to love our enemies, and those who defame and injure us, and to pray for them and forgive them; Who Thyself didst pray for Thine enemies who crucified thee: grant us, we pray, the spirit of Christian reconciliation and meekness, that we may heartily forgive every injury and be reconciled with our enemies. Grant us to overcome the malevolence and offences of people with Christian meekness and true love of our neighbor. We further beseech Thee, O Lord, to grant to our enemies true peace and forgiveness of sins; and do not allow them to leave this life without true faith and sincere conversion. And help us repay evil with goodness, and to remain safe from the temptations of the devil and from all the perils which threaten us, in the form of visible and invisible enemies. Amen.
From the Orthodox Christian Foundation
Thanks to Ministry Growers Blog for some provocative art work.
thanks chris, this is a great place to take st. valentine's day because valentine loved as Christ loves in the midst of persecution, imprisonment, and torture. we, the church, should use this day to remember and pray for our enemies
ReplyDeleteRight on, Barb. This is not a message that sits well with suburbanite Americanity, but it's vital to biblical Christianity. And you're right to point to the history of the martyrs as people who loved their enemies - God's enemies - enough to witness to Him, no matter what it cost them.
ReplyDeleteThat's real love.