And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.—Job 42:10
I have to confess that this…one of the last verses in the book of Job…stopped me dead in my tracks. Do I pray for those who are not “for” me? My answer was a “qualified” yes. I do bring them before the Lord daily, but sadly my heart is often not in it. I pray for the people who ARE “for” me with fervency, but how often do I ask the Spirit of God to help me to pray for my enemies with the same fervor? My prayers for my enemies usually come at the end of my prayer time and are half-hearted at best. I do want the Lord to restore my losses as He did Job’s, but what I want even more is His love poured out in my heart for those people that I don’t want to intercede for.
God’s desire is that none should perish, but that all should come to eternal life in His Son. He died for me when I was yet His enemy. If I truly want to be conformed into His image, than I must do likewise. A servant is not above His master.
Father…Give me Your heart of love for those that hurt me daily and live toward me as if my heart were impervious to pain. Help me to intercede for them as my Jesus does for me. Help me to pray for them Your richest blessings.
12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.—Isaiah 53:12
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.—Romans 8:31-34
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.—Matthew 5:44-48
