Wait, what??

“If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.” Romans 12:14, NLT

Yep, that’s what it says…bless those who persecute you because you are striving to live the Christian life. Does this happen? Yes, every day. Bullies are people who hurt because they have been hurt. “Misery loves company” is a pretty fair statement for this type of person. “I don’t have what you have in your life, so I have the need to hurt you” is part of this thinking as they persecute with pranks, mean words, sarcasm or worse still leaving you out and ignoring you. It’s all a form of bullying you to think more like they think…like the world thinks.

HOW do we bless the bullies in our lives?

Jesus, while here on earth tells us how and teaches from the mountain top, “You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.’ BUT I SAY, don’t resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too. If you are ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.” 
Matthew 5:38-41, NLT

Jesus goes on to say, “You have heard that the law of Moses says ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. BUT I SAY, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.” 
Matthew 5:43-45, NLT

If we pray God will bless them, then maybe the hurt they are experiencing that is passed on to you, will be healed and come to God through Jesus Christ! Either way, we do not strike back, we pray God’s blessings over them. This isn’t easy, but necessary to living as “true children of God”. We cannot allow bullies to bring us down. Our prayer is to lift them up, not to where we are but where God is, so He can deal with them as His creation. 

I’m going through this right now, so believe me, this teaching is challenging but necessary. Who do I want to be? God’s child who lets Him take care of the persecutor or one who joins in the persecution? I choose Christ. I choose Life. 

Hurting people hurt people. Don’t let it be me.
In Jesus Name, Amen