About six years ago, I was sitting with my then four-year old son watching TV. On the screen they showed one of the recently captured terrorist. His hair was ruffled, his eyes were puffy, and he looked like an overall wreck. To me, he looked like he was breathing, so he looked like he was doing too well. My four-year old on the other hand, he asks, "Do you think that man knows that God loves him?"
Wow. I remember thinking back then how awesome it was that God can speak directly to your heart through your own child. I'd like to say that I've been praying for terrorists for the past six years but that would be a lie. My epiphany on loving my enemies lasted all of a day or two.
How can I love someone that would kill innocent women and children? How can I love someone, that if I was ever in the wrong place, at the wrong time, they would kill me and my family because I'm an American or because I worship Jesus and not Allah? How could God ask me to do that?
I guess maybe...because the cross is bigger than their sin...and without the cross...my sin is just as great.
I blogroll this site called, There's Something Deep Inside. On it there's a post about this site called, Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer. This brought back memories of when God spoke to me about loving my enemies through the innocent eyes of my son
Now this is radical Christianity.
Wisdom so often comes from kids because their thoughts are not as tainted. Over time, little bits have creeped in to distort my views - desensitization, non-Biblical viewpoints, wanting to fit in - those types of things confuse the thoughts. But - kids just see it how it is. Black and white. They ask, "why would a mom just kill her baby because she doesn't want it?" It's really not that hard, but we let it be when we try to conform the Bible to what we want it to be.
ReplyDeleteMy job as a mom is to teach my kids God's principles. My prayer is that I will be able to teach them what God wants me to teach them, and not throw in all the extra stuff that makes decisions confusing. I want to teach them to hold all of their thoughts and decisions up to what the Bible says.
An example of the stuff that makes decisions confusing would be a young person making a career decision. The world (and many times those we go to for Godly counsel) tells us to find what makes the most money; but, I want to lead my kids to use the gifts God has given them, regardless of the pay. If the missionaries made their decision based on salary, who would be out there in the remote areas spreading the Gospel?
This post was great - it makes us think.
Wow, I never though about praying for one individual terrorist. Thank you for a challenging post.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to hate someone, when you pray for them. Jude 21-23 says a lot about how we are to approach someone NOT saved. Thank you for the reminder that we are not to judge one another. God Bless you and your family.
ReplyDeleteMrs Pat D - Belton, Tx.
Mrs Pat D -
ReplyDeleteWhat a great reference in Jude. Thanks for sharing these verses and thank you for your kind comments.
Grace and peace to you and your family.
Tony