S. O. A. P.

Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!

S-cripture:

Matthew 5:44

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

O-bservation:

During His famous “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus instructed all of us who claim to be His followers to “Love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.” But, unfortunately, when I look around me, I don’t see much obedience to this command. More and more, I see the opposite. It looks more like hate your enemies and curse those who persecute you. That’s why I’m asking today, “Have We Forgotten This Mandate?”

A-pplication:

When you read the words Taliban, Antifa, China, Russia, and Palestinian/Israeli peace talks, what is your initial thought? Now let’s bring it a little closer to home: racists, BLM protesters, LGBTQ, and drug dealers. There I said it. Here are my questions. As Jesus’ present-day disciples here on earth, was His statement in the above verse a MANDATE or a SUGGESTION? I believe it was a MANDATE. Second, which of those people that I mentioned do we stop LOVING or PRAYING FOR? Did Jesus categorize which groups to leave out when He said to love your enemies? By enemies, I mean those you feel are against you. Did Jesus categorize people who are endeavoring to persecute you? The answer to both questions would be NO! That’s why the Christian Faith stands apart. And you and I must be willing to stand apart in our love and in our praying from some in our faith who would label us as having sold out to love people into the kingdom. That’s why I ask, “Have We Forgotten This Mandate?”

P-rayer:

Dear Jesus,

May I never forget why You died on a cruel cross. It wasn’t because You loved the lovable, but rather You loved the unlovable of Your day. Your message is as powerful today as the day You preached it. No one on earth has ever thrown down a greater challenge than You, dear Lord. I’m all in. Amen

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