Luke the beloved physician wrote how Jesus said, “woe unto you that are rich! for you have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for you shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for you shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, ...”, and in chapter six and verse twenty-eight of his book Luke shares how Jesus said, “bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you” where we read:
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
The verse reads, “Bless them that curse you, ...” Luke began with the words, “Bless them” or “praise, celebrate and pronounce a consecratory blessings upon people whether male or female”, “that curse you” which means “who imprecate evil and doom upon Jesus' disciples”. Luke shared how Jesus told the disciples who were listening to Him to “pronounce consecratory blessings” upon people who “imprecate evil” upon them.
The verse continues, “... and pray for them which despitefully use you.” Luke added the words, “and pray for them” which means “and offer prayers, supplicate and worship God earnestly for people whether male or female” “which despitefully use you” or “who insult, falsely accuse, revile and treat His disciples abusively”. Luke shared how Jesus told the disciples listening to Him to “make orations to God” for people who “revile and falsely accuse” them.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn another directive from Jesus when people “curse” and “despitefully use” His disciples. When a person believes and trusts in Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”, it does not exempt them from suffering “evil speech” or “false accusations”. In fact, many times belief in Jesus and His ways becomes the stimulant for others to “abuse” them. God loves people, and having a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus has a “cost” associated with it. Jesus said to “bless” and “pray” for people who oppose His disciples, and should there be one reading these words who are experiencing this right now, follow the words of Jesus and He will bless you in return.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “unto him that smites you on the one cheek, offer also the other”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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