love your enemies and pray for those who persecute

we pray out of need
out of
love
and that love extends by prayer
and then by action
to our enemies
even
the active persecutors

and we are not asked to take part in s and m
but
to go for healthy if serving
and sacrificial

and that seems a mystery
I guess
for which the Bible offers precedent
even
as paradox

but there is need
and
there is
prayer
yes
for thanksgiving and other
reasons
too

prayer for the friendly people
also

thus for each and every
as
needs press
we ask
then
move in the world

say
as wise as
serpents
and as gentle as doves

c l couch


Matthew 5:44, 10:16, also Psalm 65:3, Proverbs 24:17 (and, you know, verses and passages around)

photo by iso topon on Unsplash

maybe I drafted this because I need reminding not of the suggestion but direction