Say what?

Most people hear what much of the Bible says and think, "that's nice" or "I can go along with that."  Verses which are easy on the ears such as God is love or Love one another don't cause any real discomfort.  But, that isn't the case with everything we read.  Romans 12:14 is one of those verses that can be a bit hard to swallow.  It says (gulp), Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

You gotta be kidding, right?  God really doesn't expect us to bless those who persecute us, does he? 

One thing I have discovered about God's Word is that the Lord never took lightly what He led His servants to record.  Starting with Moses (he didn't bring down the "10 Suggestions" from Mt. Sinai you know) who wrote the first five books of the Old Testament (The Pentateuch) all the way to the Apostle John who recorded the Revelation while on the Isle of Patmos, God laid out a complete account of His purpose for mankind and His actions to assure that His sovereign will is done.

And so, Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse is a serious command from our Creator, Sustainer, and Lord.  Well, what does it mean to "bless?"  According to Parson's Bible Dictionary "One blesses another when he expresses good wishes or offers prayer to God for his welfare." 

How is that possible?  How can someone possibly express good wishes for someone who has been persecuting them?  How could you possibly pray to God for that person's welfare?  That's just not natural!  You're right.  It isn't natural.  The "Natural Man" or the "Fleshly Man" as we are often known as in Scripture cannot do it -- at least not in his own power.  It is only something that can occur when the heart of the person who has been persecuted or harmed is filled more with the love of God than of hatred for the offender.

Several months ago I watched a documentary which showed the mother of a murdered child in her first encounter with her son's killer.  The cameras showed a young man in his 20's as he nervously awaited the encounter.  It was clear that he didn't know what to expect, and he certainly did not anticipate it happening the way it did. 

The mother, who had requested their meeting, sat across the table from the young man and addressed him quietly.  She described for the man how her life had changed since the slaying of her son.  She shared how terribly she missed the little boy and regreted that she would not have the joy of watching him grow up.  Then she said something that literally took away the breath of the man.  "I want you to know that I have forgiven you for what you did and I know that God loves you." 

Tears began to flow as what the woman was saying sank in.  The young man couldn't believe what he was hearing.  "How could you possibly say this?", he asked bewildered.  

"It's only because I know that Jesus has forgiven me that I can extend forgiveness to you." And she shared with the man how he could know the forgiveness of Christ as well. 

That's something that can only be explained as "a God-thing."  May your relationship with the Lord Jesus develop in such a way that you can face your persecutor or enemy in the eye and say, "God bless you!"