During the Autumn months in our Church we have been going through the Sermon on the Mount. Alongside my preparations for these sermons I have also been reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book, 'The Cost of Discipleship'. This book is causing me to look deep and think deep about what does it mean for me to follow Jesus.
Last Sunday, we look at what does it mean for Jesus followers (or Apprentices...we have adopted Dallas Willard's title for disciples) to love their enemies. During the sermon I wanted to look at what does it look like when we pray for our enemies, Bonhoeffer paints this picture for us.
It will be the prayer of earnest love for those very sons of perdition who stand around and gaze at us with eyes aflame with hatred, and who have perhaps already raised their hands to kill us. It will be a prayer for the peace of these erring, devastated and bewildered souls, a prayer for for the same love and peace which we ourselves enjoy, a prayer which will penetrate to the depths of their souls and rend their hearts more grievously than anything they can do to us. Yes, the Church which is really waiting for its Lord, and which discerns the signs of the times of decision, must fling itself with its utmost power and with the panoply of its holy life into this prayer of love.
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