For Such a Time as This….

He works diligently and for years he has put in his time.  Hours spent, beyond countless hours, a slave to daily tasks.  Routine evils that rid out fears of insecure people.   And he talks about environments as though they live and they breath… like flesh.  But hard pressed he is,  to get a response from a callous piece of metal sitting high upon a rack somewhere in the great wide open…. of a state far away.  And no forgiveness is necessary when the technology fails.  Only forgiving ourselves for the foolishness of our thoughts.

But there are men in this place…. with hearts beating and wounds running deep.  And they wager war on the souls of those alive.  Their words cut like a steel knife straight through the middle of it…. leaving the outer edges exposed and the inside churning like butter, raw.

In a place where egos fight and pride runs rampant this man sits, surrounded by cloth covered walls, a ceiling filled merely with air and the noise of this world clamoring desperately for his attention.  And he wears the struggle in his outward appearance, stress over taking day by day.  Circumstance suffocating life.

But I tell you:  Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.   Matthew 5:44 NIV

He utters it in a sentence, hushed under his breath…. a fear almost holding him back.  It’s like the unknown.   The unfamiliar territory of doing the exact opposite of what seems comfortable, by this world’s standards.  And I hear him, “How do you do it?  Pray for those who persecute you?”

I swallow hard and he’s seen my challenge, years in the making… the transformation of a heart, once molded almost in stone.  Glancing at him I pass a reminder… that HE still moves stones.

But there are expectations and the workplace is no exception.  We want to control and not be lost by control.  Our emotions engage and sometimes we regret.  There are disagreements and we have to agree.

And, there is freedom even in the barriers of cloth walls where dead air renders hatred… Because, we have a confidence in a known God.  Entrusting HIM with all the unknowns beckoning worry from our world worn, weary souls.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.  John 16:33 NIV

He whispers it again and I question back, “What about forgiveness?  What about the Cross?”  And, what about the God man who trudged through streets with the weight of our sins on His back, his face smitten and his body beaten, Him all scorned?

This is how we pray for those who persecute us, we pray in forgiveness.

There were two that day, who hung beside HIM.  One a murderer, the other a thief.  And in HIS agony… HIS deep pain, he cried out, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  Luke 23:34 NIV

HIS words are etched on my soul like a signature, symbolizing ownership, a belonging.  And on the hinges of my heart they tug at me.  And I am reminded of my own sin, my dark moments spent filled with pride and discontent.  I am like the murderer, who has killed the plans that HE has for me, clinging to control.  And I am the thief, who steals joy at the hands of my own selfishness.  I am the walking wounded, begging forgiveness from a God who forgives.

I am the persecutor and HE prays for me.

I pray for them.  I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.  John 17:9 NIV

Fling wide the door to your heart and let the redeeming love of the God Man sink in, pray without ceasing…. that we might also be forgiven.

This is how we pray for those who persecute us, we pray in love.

We pray steadfastly, a change in the beat.  A rhythm rhyming with a heart aligned.  On our knees we see the persecuted and HIS lens gives clarity to our call.  Grace  washing over us at the foot of the cross, like streams of living water…. giving life to the lifeless.

Persecutors pray and are washed by grace,  attaining freedom to forgive and pray in love…  for those who persecute us.  To THIS we are called.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and FORGIVE WHATEVER GRIEVANCES you may have against one another.  FORGIVE AS THE LORD FORGAVE YOU.  And OVER ALL THESE VIRTUES PUT ON LOVE, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  LET THE PEACE OF CHRIST RULE IN YOUR HEARTS, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  Colossians 3:12-15