When we’ve been hurt or wronged, our anger or grief can cause us to react in one of two ways.
We can either seek revenge, vowing to “one up” our oppressor… or we can get on our knees and truly bless them – from a sincere heart.
But how do we actually “bless” those who curse us?
We pray for them.
All throughout the Bible, Jesus instructs us to pray for our enemies.
We may know this truth in an intellectual sense, but living it out is a whole different experience – and it cannot be done in our own strength.
In our fallen world, people usually (although not always) respond to kindness with kindness.
After all, it’s “easy” to love the sweet, little old lady at the cash register who’s always smiling or the guy who always volunteers to drive the food truck to help feed the hungry.
We like people who flatter us or make us feel good about ourselves.
But what about the rude person waiting in line at the grocery store? Or the guy who cuts you off in traffic… and then gives you an ugly hand gesture?
Or the co-worker who clearly doesn’t like you and makes it known – to you and everybody else.
It’s much more difficult to love these people, right?
But that’s exactly what separates the Christian from the rest of the world.
Even Jesus pointed this out in Matthew 5:46 when He said: “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”
As Christians, our faith is supposed to make us different than the rest of the world.
We ARE called to be distinct, because of the faith we have in obeying the words of our Heavenly Father.
We’ve all seen stories of Christians who have been persecuted… and watched in awe as their families are publicly seen praying and offering forgiveness to those who took the life of their loved ones.
Elisabeth Elliot actually went back to continue the missionary work her husband Jim Elliot started and lived with those who had killed him, even leading some of them to Christ.
Now while most of us will never likely face such extreme situations (although we might) – we can still pray for those who curse us.
Of course, this can only be done by the grace of God.
In our human weakness, the last thing we want to do is extend grace or mercy to people who have hurt us.
But all we have to do is look back to the cross and realize that we are all sinners and in His mercy, Christ died for us.
So fellow Christian, when the day comes and you’re faced with someone who seeks to do you harm – bless them.
Pray for them.
Your witness will shine like a bright light in a dying world and point others to Christ.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17
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