A Christ-like heart week 22, 2016

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God about the Jews is that they would be saved Rom 10:1(ISV). My heart’s desire. Who were the Jews to Paul but his fellow countrymen and fierce persecutors? We also have countrymen who persecute us. Yet our response and prayer for them is judgement and deserved hellfire. As if we could stand getting what we deserve from God. As if we deserve the mercy and grace we now stand. Consider the behaviour of the Jews towards him. Five times I received from the Jews 40 lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with a stick, once I was pelted with stones 2Cor 11:24-25 (ISV)  Recall it was the Jews who instigated the crowd at Lystra to stone Paul and left him for dead (we have experienced beatings and have been left for dead by our countrymen  today too) . It was also the Jews who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved 1Thess 2:15-16(ISV).  They are the ones who viciously stoned Stephen to death after he bore a Spirit filled witness to them Acts 7:55-60 (some people are killing Christians today and raping them, working also very hard to gag the preaching of the word of God). They are the same ones that were well pleased when James the apostles was killed with the sword by Herod. It is this same group of people Paul says my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. And it isn’t only Paul’s heart desire. It is also Stephens’. As they continued to stone Stephen, he kept praying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, don't hold this sin against them!" After he had said this, he died Act 7:59, 60(ISV).

Now fast track to the 21^st century, to 2016 precisely. Marauding Muslim herdsmen are looked upon as the present day threat. Our churches are burnt, our kin slain, property ravaged. Which part of the nation has not experienced killings, maiming, rape and forced marriages attributable to them and their kind? Just like the Jews of Paul’s day. What is our heart’s desire towards them? What prayer requests are we lifting up to God concerning them? “Holy Ghost... fire!!” is heard in many a church and gathering. Across the nation prayers of vengeance are called for. What makes us think God delights to answers such? “Do you think I enjoy seeing evil people die?" asks the Sovereign LORD. "No, I would rather see them repent and live” Eze 18:23(GNB). Has God changed? Impossible. God who commanded us to first of all pray is the same One who wants all people to be saved and to come to know the truth fully1Tim 2:4(ISV). Including murderers. The cry and response of our heart must be like that of Paul and Stephen if indeed the same Spirit lives in us as they. What is in our hearts towards murdering marauding Muslims? Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you Lk 6:27(ISV).