Wait--Are We Called to Love Those Who Behead Others?!

Considering Truths During Lent

Today's Devotional Thoughts

It was just a little over a year ago that I was horrified to read how islamic State terrorists had beheaded 21 Egyptian Christian hostages in Libya. Not only did it horrify me . . . it shamed me, because I think I'm persecuted when people make fun of my faith. I think those Christians would have chosen mockery over beheading.

It also shamed me, because I can still vividly remember my first impulse.

My first impulse was to wish for God to strike those terrorists dead. Strike them dead on the spot!

Then I remembered that Jesus had something to say about love for our enemies. Would that be . . . 

• So-called comedians & talk-show hosts who openly ridicule Christians & the Christ we worship? Yes, those enemies.
• "Pro-choice" "enemies" whose choice involves doing everything they can to promote the slaughter of unborn children? Yes, those enemies.
• "Enemies" whose avowed goal, proven over & over again by their actions, is to kill Christians, not just in Northern Africa & the Middle East, but in Europe & within our own borders? Yes, those enemies.

Wait . . . what? Christ told us to pray for our enemies? Time out for a Truth to Consider during Lent.

Today's Scriptural Truth

"[Jesus said], 'You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be children of your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:43-44

Back to Some Devotional Thoughts

Well, Jesus, Your thinking flies in the face of conventional wisdom. Let me see if I can reason this out.

• You are the Son of God, so You are also a child of our Father in heaven.
• While You were hanging on a cross, dying for the sake of sinful humankind, including me, You prayed to Your Father in heaven, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34
• Although we're tempted to apply Jesus' words to those immediately involved in physically nailing Him to the cross; verbally condemning Him; shouting "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!; & mocking Him in the most profane manner possible, if we are in any way honest with ourselves, we MUST admit that we are/were just as culpable. Our sins put Jesus on that cross just as forcibly & painfully as anything the Jewish religious leaders, Roman governor, & Roman soldiers did.
• So, Jesus' prayer on the cross was for all people of all times--past, present, & future--whose sinful condition led to His sacrificial death on the cross.
• That makes all humankind Jesus' enemies . . . makes you & me His enemies . . . 
• . . . Makes Jesus' prayer on the cross a prayer for you & me! Therefore . . .
• Jesus loves His enemies . . . Loves you & me!

Some Closing Truth from Scripture

St. Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes to the Church in Rome in the 1st century A.D. & to us in the 21st century:  "As it is written, 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:36-39

Today's Prayer Thoughts

Give thanks for a Savior whose love for His enemies was so great that it led Him to a cross that should have been reserved for you & me. Pray that our Christian brothers & sisters who remain under severe persecution may be delivered from their peril & remain true to their Lord & Savior.

Final Note

This is a Lenten devotion I adapted from devotions written for the Lutheran High Northeast (Norfolk, NE) Daily Announcements in February, 2015.