Day 15: Hard Prayers

How easy is it to follow someone that tells us to do a hard thing but is unwilling to do the same? It’s pretty hard isn’t it? Yet if someone is doing something that is really hard to do and is encouraging you to come along and do the same, it’s easier to say, "If they can do this hard thing then I guess I can, too."

Jesus came to this world and told us to do something really hard. He told us to love our enemies. It wasn’t just any kind of love. He asked us to have an agape love for our enemies. That means that we have the best interest of our enemies in our heart. We want to see them succeed. We even pray to God for their success.

Jesus didn’t just tell us to do this hard thing. He loved His enemies so much that He was willing to sacrifice himself by dying a cruel death on the cross. Think of the suffering that He went through because He loved

His enemies and wanted to bring them the most precious gift ever imagined. Jesus loved those that hated Him and persecuted Him on the cross, and He asked us to do likewise.

As Christians, we are called to be set apart and to be different. How different from the world would we be, if all we did was love those that loved us? Let us all follow Christ’s example and love our enemies.

"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven...” Matthew 5:44-45

Written by Dennis Nosal, an elder at Mt. Juliet

# posted by JP @ 12:01 AM on Sunday, November 28, 2010

Comments:

The MJ Youth Retreat recently talked alot about "Doing Hard Things." Too often in our religious culture where books like "Radical" are getting so much attention - we confuse the "hard things" with concerns that only deal with our material possessions. How many really do the hard things like mention the name of their enemy in prayer each day? How many truly from the heart pray for their soul to be reached? I'm all for us down grading our houses to be able to give more, but that is another discussion for another blog. Hard prayers ... for enemies ... Thy will, not mine be done ... whether my life or death, whatever will best further Your Kingdom ...
great blog Dennis.
david

# posted by

David R. Shannon : November 28, 2010 at 3:26 AM

What is a hard prayer for you to pray?

# posted by

David R. Shannon : November 28, 2010 at 3:27 AM

David,

You hit on the hard thing it is for me to pray for.....our enemies. Maybe not just our enemies, but praying for those that we don't trust. However, when you stop and put it into perspective, those are the ones that we need to be praying for like we are taught.

# posted by

Anonymous : November 29, 2010 at 6:01 AM



Day 15: Hard Prayers How easy is it to follow someone that tells us to do a hard thing but is unwilling to do the same? It’s pretty hard isn’t it? Yet if someone is doing something that is really hard to do and is encouraging you to come along and do the same, it’s easier to say, "If they can do this hard thing then I guess I can, too." Jesus came to this world and told us to do something really hard. He told us to love our enemies. It wasn’t just any kind of love. He asked us to have an agape love for our enemies. That means that we have the best interest of our enemies in our heart. We want to see them succeed. We even pray to God for their success. Jesus didn’t just tell us to do this hard thing. He loved His enemies so much that He was willing to sacrifice himself by dying a cruel death on the cross. Think of the suffering that He went through because He loved His enemies and wanted to bring them the most precious gift ever imagined. Jesus loved those that hated Him and persecuted Him on the cross, and He asked us to do likewise. As Christians, we are called to be set apart and to be different. How different from the world would we be, if all we did was love those that loved us? Let us all follow Christ’s example and love our enemies. "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven...” Matthew 5:44-45 Written by Dennis Nosal, an elder at Mt. Juliet # posted by JP @ 12:01 AM on Sunday, November 28, 2010 Comments: The MJ Youth Retreat recently talked alot about "Doing Hard Things." Too often in our religious culture where books like "Radical" are getting so much attention - we confuse the "hard things" with concerns that only deal with our material possessions. How many really do the hard things like mention the name of their enemy in prayer each day? How many truly from the heart pray for their soul to be reached? I'm all for us down grading our houses to be able to give more, but that is another discussion for another blog. Hard prayers ... for enemies ... Thy will, not mine be done ... whether my life or death, whatever will best further Your Kingdom ... great blog Dennis. david # posted by David R. Shannon : November 28, 2010 at 3:26 AM What is a hard prayer for you to pray? # posted by David R. Shannon : November 28, 2010 at 3:27 AM David, You hit on the hard thing it is for me to pray for.....our enemies. Maybe not just our enemies, but praying for those that we don't trust. However, when you stop and put it into perspective, those are the ones that we need to be praying for like we are taught. # posted by Anonymous : November 29, 2010 at 6:01 AM Post a Comment << Home	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM Past Archives: November 2010 December 2010

Day 15: Hard Prayers

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