The prayer is for protection from the enemies of God's
people but it is also for their destruction.
We don't know what the situation was that inspired this sentiment but we
do have to think about this through the lens Jesus gives us concerning our
enemies. As we deal today with the
situation of Islamic extremism in the world we need to consider our own prayers
with respect to the situation. These
people have made themselves the enemies of God's people, they have forsworn on
oath to destroy all who do not believe in their god. As individuals we are bound to pray for their
salvation, for their ability to discern the demonic deception under which they
live and yet, simultaneously, as a nation, what is our responsibility to our
brothers and sisters who are being slain for their faith. What is the duty of mankind in such
situations? Do we not have a duty to do
all we can to protect the innocent who are being harmed? We approach this issue from two directions,
one as Christians with great compassion for people on both sides but also we
have a responsibility as human beings to protect others from harm, particularly
when a great evil is behind the slaughter.
In all things, we also pray with this writer, for mercy for ourselves as
we can but humbly admit that we sin no matter what we do. Let us choose wisely and humbly.
The thing we must always bear in mind in life is our own
sinfulness and need of mercy and forgiveness.
In the parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus points to a truth we
find elsewhere in His life when the prostitute washes Jesus' feet. In that instance He asks the Pharisee at
whose home they are dining, a little question based in a parable where one
person sinned greatly against someone while a second person sinned but in
lesser degree. His question was who
would love more if forgiven. The answer
was simple, the one who was forgiven more.
The servant in the parable here is forgiven an almost unimaginable debt
while he himself was unwilling to forgive a meager debt owed to him. The servant had no appreciation for the grace
received from his own master and the evidence was that he demanded payment from
his fellow. The grace we have received
in the cross points to the magnitude of our sin and the magnanimity of our God
at once. In all things let us remember
the grace we have received, are receiving and will receive.
Paul finishes chapter 12 of the letter to the church at
Corinth by speaking of the gifts and offices in the church but concludes by
saying we should desire the higher gifts.
He also emphasizes that no gift is given to all people. Then, he says he will show a more excellent
way, the way of love. Wonderfully, Paul
disabuses anyone who reads the letter of the idea that love is an emotion or a
feeling, it has a particular content and at the end of the chapter we can only
say, I have never truly loved. Anything
less than the ideal is not properly called love is it? Only God loves that way for more than a
fleeting moment and we should, for that alone, be in a constant state of
repentance but also thankfulness that we have a God who loves like this.
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