A name that reaps anger and fear across the world today.
Black uniforms, covered faces, heartless souls. Or so they seem.
Underneath the black masks are eyes who can no more behold the face of God than I.
He went to the cross for their sins just like He did for mine.
When Jesus said, "It is finished", it was finished for them as much as for me.
The only difference?
I have come to know the love of Christ. They do not know that love.
He loves them; of that, I have no doubt. But they do not know the God who IS love.
They are the lost. They believe they are killing FOR Him. Only, He has not asked us to kill.
He has asked us to love.
When we realize how He loves us, we cannot help but love Him in return! And the overflow of giving and receiving love from a Holy God flows to others, including our enemies.
Who cares about ISIS?
We should all care.
We should love them. Truly love them. Because He says to.
"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and
hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray
for those who persecute you, that you may be children
of your Father
in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the
good, and sends
rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you,
what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?
Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
--Jesus, in Matthew 5:43-48
Can we love them across the ocean?
Can we love them if they enter our land?
What if they dress us in orange and walk us in line to our own martyrdom?
Could we ask the Lord to forgive them like Jesus petitioned the Father to forgive those who took part in His crucifixion?
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
Luke 23:34
Right now, ISIS is a group of men who will not be saved eternally. They have rejected Jesus as Lord and Savior.
They are performing evil.
They are souls in need of salvation.
Will you join me in praying for all those who call themselves ISIS?
Because He wants us to.
Wow! What a powerful post! It remind me of this quote by Anne frank who went through a LOT (holocaust) : "Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!"
ReplyDeleteAnne Frank
Thank you for posting this and God bless. :D
God hates sin, yet loves the sinner. This is how we should also look at the lost - they are lost royalty; they do not know God as they are known by Him
ReplyDeleteI would be lying if I said I could do this....I can pray for them... I am however very grateful that In Yeshua I am already dead and can trust that HIS life which He now lives in me can do the loving. I Trust His ability, not mine. No one can take my life, I have already given it to Him.
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