Persecuting Jesus
Persecuting Jesus
Those who persecute us indirectly persecute Jesus. When Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus he asked Paul why he was persecuting him. He said, “‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' ‘Who are you, Lord?' Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' he replied,” Acts 9:4-5. Fortunately enough, Paul received salvation, not judgment from Christ.
However Paul suffered the most among all the apostles in proclaiming the gospel. “This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name,” Acts 9:15-16.
Many found salvation through his sufferings. His salvation opened doors to the greatest outreach among the early apostles.
Others persecuting us therefore find salvation, thus receiving God's mercy. We can only pray they all receive God's mercy instead of his wrath. It's Satan fighting against us as he works through their fallen nature. That's why the Bible says, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms,” Ephesians 6:12.
Scripture also says we're to walk in forgiveness. We forgive our persecutors and count their acts as being done out of not knowing what they're doing. Forgiveness obtains blessings for us and for those who wrong us. After Job prayed for his friends who kept judging him God restored twice all that he previously lost (Job 42:10).
When Stephen forgave those stoning him Paul received God's mercy that later brought his salvation. Meanwhile Stephen received a hero's welcome in heaven.
Scripture says, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing,” 1 Peter 3:9. Forgiveness enables us to inherit the blessing God has for us in every area we're being challenged to forgive. One of the great blessings is being forgiven by him.
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one,” Matthew 6:12-13 (NIV, ASV, NKJV, BBE).
Praying for persecutors is a way of forgiving their debts and trespasses against us. These may include some family members, relatives, friends, workmates, other acquaintances, strangers, those who persecuted or currently persecute you and even people that seem not to deserve forgiveness like thieves, criminals and so on.