Romans 12:14 
Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. (NLT)

Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. (MSG)

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Some of God’s instructions are not as fun as others. This chapter is chock-full of good stuff. Verse 2, for example, says to “let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” It’s amazing how many crooked thoughts get straightened out when we lean into God’s wisdom. 

The same verse says, “Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” When we follow God’s leadership, it always results in our highest good. It has pleasant effects. It is absolutely the right thing every time. 

The next verse says, “Don’t think you are better than you really are.” This is a verse for this era, isn’t it? The Apostle Paul goes on to say, “Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves.” This is a bit challenging. We all like to think we are above average, but this is statistically impossible. Honest evaluation helps us see where we are, where we need to be, and helps us find those who can guide us in our growth and development.

The hardest thing to do in this verse comes at the end where it says, measure “yourselves by the faith God has given us.” The Message paraphrases this this way:  

However high you consider your standards, this is definitely a cut above them. 

You get the picture. This is a chapter we could read every day to our everlasting benefit. Which brings us back to one of the hardest things to do in the whole wide world. Paul says, “Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.”

This came home to me a generation ago when my family and I were treated rather contemptuously by some people. This less-than-descriptive sentence was originally longer and too descriptive. These people were jerks not only to me, but also to lots of other people. You never knew where you stood with them until you realized you were standing on the wrong side of the line. 

As is my habit now, so it was then. I read the Bible each morning in a systematic fashion. This verse hit me hard as I dealt with their insults and unkindness. God said to bless them. God said not to curse them. God said to pray for them. 

Some commands are harder to obey than others.

Then I started applying what he was saying to me. It was grudgingly at first. I didn’t like doing it. It left a bad taste in my mouth to ask God to bless the jerks who were hurting my family and me. 

It’s funny how this works out. When we stop trying to act like spiritual police officers and make room for God to love people into a more righteous demeanor than we could, the people quite often change. More often, however, God changes us. He changes how we see those people. It changes how we respond to them. It lowers our blood pressure. It cools our fever. It teaches us to want for them the kinds of blessings that will remove any need for hatefulness in their lives. 

Here’s a prayer to pray: “Our Father,” (because he is their Father also), fill their lives with the goodness they appear to lack. May your goodness, kindness, and blessings overflow into their lives. Remove from them the fear and anger that causes them to wound others. Heal them in their broken places. Use me however you see fit so they can experience your grace and mercy. Amen.”

Some prayers are hard to pray. Sometimes, what I want for others is what I need for myself. Sometimes, God graciously says yes for them and for me.

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I will seek God’s highest and best for those who treat me with contempt.

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Our Father, fill hurtful people’s lives with the goodness they appear to lack. May your kindness and blessings overflow into their lives. Remove from them the fear and anger that causes them to wound others. Heal them in their broken places. Use me however you see fit so they can experience your grace and mercy. Amen.