Friday October 7, 2022

Today is Friday, October 7 and we are praying through the teachings of Jesus found in the fifth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel.

New every morning is Your love, great God of light, and all day long You are working for good in the world. Stir up in me the desire to serve You, to live peacefully with my neighbors, and devote this day to Your Son, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. (Presbyterian Worshipbook, adapted)

Pause and Pray

Here I am, Lord Jesus, I sit at Your feet to learn God’s kingdom ways. I know You are always working for good in my life. You want the best for me and the best for the people I love. Open the scriptures and teach me how to find life, joy and peace each day. Amen.

This morning I lift my thoughts to a God of mercy and ponder these words from Proverbs 25.

Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. Proverbs 25:20-21

Pause and Pray

In today’s section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus goes beyond telling me I must not lose my temper with difficult people or retaliate when they cause me harm. Jesus goes further to say that I must love my enemies and pray for my persecutors. One of the major struggles in the nine to five world is dealing day in and day out with difficult people. Who are the troublemakers in my life? Who are the difficult people? Who challenges my patience? Who causes me to lose my temper? What does Jesus have to say about these relationships?

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

Difficult people. The driver who cuts me off. The customer who is never satisfied. The employee who is always complaining. The peer who is “out for me.” The colleague who is trying to sabotage me. The boss who is impossible to please. The family member who always finds fault. The friend who constantly complains. The disagreeable person who posts on social media. The various people who bring negativity into my life – griping, grumbling, gossiping. Maybe even someone who has spread rumors, maligned my character or harmed my reputation. Maybe even someone who verbally attacked me in a meeting, manipulated my words, took credit for my work or caused me to appear in a poor light.

Ask: Who are the difficult people in my life? Who has something against me or tried to cause me harm?

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord Jesus, You call me to another level of love and conduct in all my relationships – even the most difficult ones. The more I reflect on Your words, the more I recognize how much I am in need of the work of the Holy Spirit in order to love others as You love. Reveal the people in my life who You want me to love and pray for. I read Matthew again, listening for the message You have for me today.

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

Jesus is my teacher this morning and the Holy Spirit is my guide. I consider what God might want to reveal to me today about my relationships with difficult people. How do Jesus’ words inform my current circumstances? How might I rely on the Holy Spirit to help me grow in the grace needed for all my relationships? Who are the people I should pray for? How might praying for particularly difficult people change my attitude toward them over time?

Pause and Pray

Help me Lord Jesus, I cannot do this on my own. Come and encourage me to love those who have caused difficulty in my life and teach me the secrets of kindness and patience for the personalities that are most challenging for me. Show me the way to prayer and forgiveness that I could never find on my own, but fully need You to guide me into holiness. Remove any bitterness, fear or resentment from my heart and fill me with love and peace. Amen.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:35-36

I leave this time of prayer cognizant of the grace and mercy of God. I go to extend grace and mercy to others in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen