A Prayer about Enemy Love
If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:32–36)
Dear Father, if I were ever in doubt about the power of your law to drive me to Jesus, all doubt is removed by this one Scripture. I cannot and I will not love like this apart from union and communion with Jesus. So as I pray through this pas- sage today, I do so convinced of your love for me in Jesus and comforted to know that you have hidden my life in his.
Father, I’m the ungrateful and wicked one to whom your kindness has been wondrously expressed in the gospel. Indeed, it was while I was your enemy that you reconciled me to yourself through the death of your beloved Son, Jesus (Rom. 5:10). Every time I try to excuse myself from loving difficult people, remind me of these truths. I’ve never been “choice,” just chosen by your sovereign grace.
Who are my enemies, real or imagined? Forgive me for labeling some people “the enemy” simply out of my bruised pride, hurt feelings, and fragile self. Bring the power of the gospel to bear. Gentle me in those relationships. Simply avoiding them will do no good, and rehearsing their failures will only fertilize my bitterness.
Father, for real enemies— those who’ve been instruments of great harm in my life, by their words or with their own hands— for these situations, give me wisdom and courage. I’ll seek to revoke all revenge as I wait on you, gracious Father.
Lastly, in the situations where I’ve been labeled an enemy, help me to care more about your glory than my reputation. I don’t want to obsess over their gossip. I don’t want to be paralyzed by their distance and disdain. Where I need to own my sin and repent, please make it clear to me, loving Father. Where their anger has very little or nothing to do with me at all, sustain me in the chaos while you do your work of redemption.
I praise you for not rewarding me according to my sins, Father, and I praise you for fully rewarding me according to Jesus’ righteousness. I pray in Jesus’ strong name.
Amen.