It is no secret that we Christians are hated in the world and hated by the world. Jesus warned us in John 15:18 that this would be our reality: “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you.” Long before the world turned on us, they turned on Jesus, and crucified Him. Today, Christians face varying levels of persecution for loving Jesus.
An “eye for an eye” is how most people think when it comes to getting back at those who cause them pain, but Jesus has challenges His followers to think and live differently. Jesus doesn’t want us to extract revenge or retaliate, instead, He teaches us to bless those who curse us and pray for those who persecute us. Only the Holy Spirit can help us to live in this radical manner!
Dear Christian, are you blessing those who curse you and praying for those who persecute you?