January 15
Heartbroken For Our Enemies
“My heart cries out for Moab.”
Isaiah 15:5a
Even though sometimes we come to it almost grudgingly, we are well aware of the instruction from Jesus to love and pray for our enemies. The hard question we must answer is how fervent those prayers for our enemies will be. When the prophet Isaiah was given a message concerning certain judgment for Moab, a territory whose inhabitants had always been among Israel’s enemies, Isaiah’s response in Isaiah 15:5 was, “My heart cries out for Moab.” Judgment, perhaps even well-deserved judgment, for an enemy caused Isaiah’s heart to cry out. His heart was broken by the thought of harm coming to this people, even though they were an enemy. Have we allowed our hearts to be broken? As we become more and more aware of the existence of those who would wish us harm and thus could be legitimately classified as our enemies, how much have we prayed for them? Have we prayed for those who would seek nothing less than our destruction? Have we prayed for those who feel nothing but hatred for us? Furthermore, how fervent has our prayer been? Have we simply prayed, or have we allowed our hearts to cry out? Have we prayed for our enemies with the same intensity and fervency that we would pray for a close friend? Do our hearts cry out? Are our hearts broken for them? Until we can reach the point where our hearts are broken and cry out on behalf of our enemies, we have not begun to live out the teachings of Jesus. We have not begun to resemble the heart of God. If Isaiah’s heart was broken for an enemy people, it is certainly safe to say that the Lord’s heart was broken for them as well. His love extends to all, enemies included. His compassion extends to all, enemies included. His heart breaks for all, enemies included. We must allow our love, compassion, and even heartbreak to resemble that of the Lord. Then we will have understood and fulfilled the words of Jesus, to love our enemies and to pray for them.
“My heart cries out for Moab.”
Isaiah 15:5a
Even though sometimes we come to it almost grudgingly, we are well aware of the instruction from Jesus to love and pray for our enemies. The hard question we must answer is how fervent those prayers for our enemies will be. When the prophet Isaiah was given a message concerning certain judgment for Moab, a territory whose inhabitants had always been among Israel’s enemies, Isaiah’s response in Isaiah 15:5 was, “My heart cries out for Moab.” Judgment, perhaps even well-deserved judgment, for an enemy caused Isaiah’s heart to cry out. His heart was broken by the thought of harm coming to this people, even though they were an enemy. Have we allowed our hearts to be broken? As we become more and more aware of the existence of those who would wish us harm and thus could be legitimately classified as our enemies, how much have we prayed for them? Have we prayed for those who would seek nothing less than our destruction? Have we prayed for those who feel nothing but hatred for us? Furthermore, how fervent has our prayer been? Have we simply prayed, or have we allowed our hearts to cry out? Have we prayed for our enemies with the same intensity and fervency that we would pray for a close friend? Do our hearts cry out? Are our hearts broken for them? Until we can reach the point where our hearts are broken and cry out on behalf of our enemies, we have not begun to live out the teachings of Jesus. We have not begun to resemble the heart of God. If Isaiah’s heart was broken for an enemy people, it is certainly safe to say that the Lord’s heart was broken for them as well. His love extends to all, enemies included. His compassion extends to all, enemies included. His heart breaks for all, enemies included. We must allow our love, compassion, and even heartbreak to resemble that of the Lord. Then we will have understood and fulfilled the words of Jesus, to love our enemies and to pray for them.
Written by Reverend Dustin Elder
Posted in 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting
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