SCRIPTURE: Luke (NIV) 23:32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
OBSERVATION: About verse 34, Albert Barnes wrote, “The power and excellence of the Christian religion. No other religion teaches men to pray for the forgiveness of enemies; no other disposes them to do it. Men of the world seek for revenge; the Christian bears reproaches and persecutions with patience, and prays that God would pardon those who injure them, and save them from their sins.”
APPLICATION: What is it that disposes Christians to pray for their persecutors? First would be the command in the Bible to “Pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)
Second would be the example of Jesus as seen in verse 34 above. He is our Lord and we want to be like Him.
And the third, and the greatest, would be the presence of Jesus living in our heart…for that is the essence of Christianity: Jesus living within the lives of those who are born again.
PRAYER: Jesus, be yourself living in me. Grow within me your inclination to be loving and forgiving. By your Holy Spirit teach me to respond in ways that represent you, that bring you joy and honor. Bring to my mind the truth that I am just passing through this world and that soon, in your presence, I will either rejoice or regret my actions here. Amen
Pastor Leon
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