40 Days of PRAYER

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of PRAYER
Day 29 | PRAY FOR THOSE WHO MISTREAT YOU | Luke 6:27-29
PRAY FOR THOSE WHO MISTREAT YOU

Luke 6:27-29
“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, those who curse you, pray for those who are abusive to you. hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your cloak, do not withhold your  tunic from him either."
(NASB)

Jesus taught the “Beatitudes” to the crowd here in Luke 6.

Regarding prayer, Jesus teaches something that few of us would have considered… to do something good and positive and loving, including praying, for those who mistreat you.

Think about the folks you meet who need prayer.  Of course, our first thoughts are for family and friends and church folks who need prayer.  And those are wonderful and deserving people for whom to pray.

But Jesus – the Son of God – is going WAY beyond just praying for those close to us that we know.   He is telling us that we need to have a mindset that PRAYS for those who don’t like us, are not close to us, and may even be negative, spiteful, and hateful.

Why would Jesus be teaching that?

Our church’s purpose is: “To Encourage Others to Follow Jesus.”  Jesus never asked Peter or John or the other disciples to “become a Christian.”  He said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  

Ultimately, starting in this life, our goal is to be like Jesus.  And how He’s asking His followers to live here, is how He lived.

Prayer: LORD, I want to be more like Jesus, but these verses are challenging.  Help me day by day to become more like YOU in all ways.  Amen.