"Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9
A friend recently shared something
incredible with me. He was not aware that spiritual persecution existed at a
significant level in the world today. As a matter of fact, he was shocked that
any modern society would want to eliminate or silence another group because
they differ in their beliefs about God.
Lord God, are we that naive, are we that
blind? Is it simply ignorance or by intentional choice that we will not see the
methodical intent to destroy Iraqi, Syrian and Coptic Christians. And when some
dare to say the past Holocaust and recent attacks on Jews are either a
fabrications, or worse, justified; do we simply shrug our shoulders as if none
of this matters?
I’d simply pray for eyes that my friend and
the rest of the world might see, but You ask for more Master. You ask us to
“do”, not just observe. You ask us not just to keep peace, but to make peace. And
remind me what You define peace to be?
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor
and hate your enemy.'
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you,
so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.
For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?
Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only
your brothers,
what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the
same?
You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
You’ve had this particular conversation
with me before: Making peace is tough. It requires a change in me. I have to love
(Your deep standard of love: sacrificing all for the loved party) and pray on
behalf of those who do not love me. And what are they required to “do” for me?
Not a thing.
I have argued with You about the
fairness of such an arrangement and You simply say:
“I am
making all things new.”
And that is the toughest part of all: Recognizing
that You are concerned for all Your children; even Your children who are persecutors
and those who have yet to acknowledge You as Lord and Savior. I would have them
brought to justice immediately. You say:
"My
grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Grace sound so wonderful when it is
being applied to me. But what if my calling is to give rather than receive? What
if my ministry is to proclaim to others Your name, my Savior Jesus, and my
testimony results in my own persecution. What if the example of my martyrdom helps
inspire another to confess You as Lord? What if by the example of my faithful
obedience, the very one who persecutes me were to turn their life to You? Such
things never happen, right?...
"Saul, Saul, why are you
persecuting me?"
What kind of bizarre ministry are You calling
me to, Master? What kind of upside-down thinking is this? Did Saul of Tarsus
ask that very question? In all my studies of scripture and
through all my prayers, the answer does not come. Maybe I’m not ever supposed
to know. Maybe all I’m supposed to do is what I’ve always been asked to do by
You:
“Do
to others as you would have them do to you.”
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