Can You Pray For The Enemy?

Simple kindness is a precious commodity, especially unexpected kindness. How many times have we dreaded a meeting with someone who we thought would give us difficulty, then find to our delight that we were treated with the utmost kindness?

Unexpected kindness ravages built-up defenses like well-placed cannon balls weaken the ramparts of a fort. It is disarming behavior that blocks anger and hate. This is an awesome power that comes from God.

In the past month we have seen people at their best, and at their worst. New Yorkers, who have an undeserved reputation for coldness, have shown their mettle in so many different ways. Tales of kindness and heroism abound. Outside New York, Americans have shown their generosity by sending tons of food and supplies into the city. We have given our life's blood to help the injured. We have gathered in our churches and prayed for the stricken and their families. And just when there seems like there is nothing else that we can do, God clearly speaks to us from the Scriptures.

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:43-45)

Can you pray for Osama bin Laden and his associates? Can you pray for the Taliban? Turn your eyes from the flag for a moment and cast them on the Cross.

Prayer is the most powerful force humans can muster. Through prayer, we harness the power of the Almighty for the benefit of a brother or sister. What greater blessing can a person receive? How pleased is God when His name is glorified this way?

"This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:3-4)

Think of it. The prayers of millions of loving Christian voices unselfishly raised to heaven in prayer for the salvation of our enemies. If anyone needs the "knowledge of the truth" it's Osama bin Laden and his supporters. If anything would please God more, it would be hard to imagine it.

If there is war, praise the Lord. If prayer avoids war, to God goes the glory! In any event, God's will be done.

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Ed Price spent 35 years in print and broadcast journalism. He is author of 15 books. After becoming an ordained minister he settled with his wife on a farm in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, to study God's word and to write. Ed and Patty are the parents of three girls, have one grandchild, and cater to the every whim of two spoiled cats.
© 2008 Ed Price - All rights reserved. Visit his website, The Loving Heart.

This column is used with permission.