Rick Lee James and a co-speaker meditate on Jesus's command to love enemies, calling them brothers who have forgotten how to love and hostages of hatred. They invoke Christ's sacrifice and ask God for the grace to breathe in compassion and choose reconciliation over revenge.
Chapters
This is Love Our Enemies, version 3. God has made this declaration through his son, the Prince of Peace, that to enter in his kingdom, we must love our enemies. They may seem a radical idea, Adversaries, but are merely slaves to sin.
So our battle is not with them.
You are only hostages. You are only hostages. Lord, deliver us from hatred, prejudice, and cruelty. From renewed discrimination, that the truth may set us free.
When we look at our affliction, we not only see ourselves, but we see a former captive whom the grace of God has helped, whom the grace of God has helped.
Father, show us how to breathe in with your mercy from above. For our enemies are brothers who've forgotten how to love.
You have made us in your image. You've redeemed us through your O son, gather us into your kingdom where no sword is ever drawn, where no sword is ever drawn.
Jesus Christ is our example, showing us the face of God when he chose to die for sinners. Rather than to shed their blood.
So we'll guide them with affection, we will conquer them with grace.
May our enemies see Jesus when they look upon our face, when they look upon our face. In his time and for his pleasure, may we all stand one day reconciled before our Father, when the old has passed away.
When revenge would cloud our vision, turn our eyes to Calvary, where our Savior You died to show us how to love our enemies, how to love our enemies. Lord and Maker of creation, all life is dear to thee. In the holy name of Jesus, help us love our enemies.
Help us love our enemies.
Lord and Maker of creation, every life is dear to thee. In the holy name of Jesus, Help us love our enemies.
