TODAY IS…

the day to pray for those who prey.

“They shoot from ambush at the innocent man; they shot at him suddenly without fear.”  Psalm64:4 NIV

Those who treat others the worst require the best we have to offer.

The world does not suffer from a shortage of people who prey on others. Some do it in very small ways, while some do it in ways that remind us that true evil surely does exist on this earth.

How do we deal with people who would prey upon others?

We have all read the newspaper stories and seen the television stories that reveal the depths to which humanity is capable of sinking. Each and every one of us has been exposed to stories that have angered us, upset us, and caused us to condemn someone for some heinous crime they have perpetrated upon society. We are most likely to lose our composure and our compassion when a crime is committed against a child, someone suffering from a physical or mental disability, or an elderly or invalid individual.

We have all read about or seen the anguish and pain of persons who have lost a child and we have more than likely joined with them in wishing nothing but the worst for the individual who would harm someone so vulnerable and innocent. These are natural human responses and our primal instincts kick in and the desire to see pain inflicted upon the predator is perfectly normal and acceptable, correct?

Unfortunately for our human emotions, this is not correct.

The individuals in these types of situations present us with one of the biggest challenges that face followers of Christ. If we follow our human instincts we go against Christ’s instructions that we are not to judge or condemn others. Rather, we are to love everyone, and we are to practice forgiveness. The judgement of others rests solely with God.

Our job is to pray for those who need it the most.

This concept is a difficult one for so many of us to accept, but it is important to note that nowhere in the Bible does it offer us exceptions to these instructions. It simply is not our place to judge others. It is our place to pray for others, and who could argue with the fact that people who are consumed with evil need our prayers more than someone who is a staunch believer in, and follower of, Christ?

We do not have to love the sin, of course, but we are commanded to love the sinner.

The ability to pray for the worst that the world has to offer demonstrates a true understanding of God’s word. It is the Lord’s responsibility to judge. It is our responsibility to pray, even – and especially – for the worst who walk among us.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson