Jesus taught us to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 6:27-28, 32-36). This teaching emphasizes that both the wrongdoer and the victim are children of God.
Consider a family conflict where a son harms his brother. Retaliation would increase pain and sorrow for the parents. Instead, parents desire the wrongdoer to repent and seek forgiveness. Similarly, God expects His children to forgive and seek justice through appropriate means.
To honor our parents, we should refrain from causing them sorrow. When persecuted, we should pray for our enemies, saying: “Oh God, I forgive [name] from my heart. Let them realize that their offense blocks Your blessings and let them truly repent to access Your blessings.”
By loving our enemies and praying for them, we prove ourselves as children of God. This acceptance is demonstrated through obedience, faithfulness, and virtues that God stands for. As children of God, we are given free will to choose between good and evil. By choosing to forgive and follow God’s teachings, we become worthy children of God.
This teaching is reflected in the Bible, “But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God” (John 1:12). By following Jesus’ teachings, we can become true children of God and live a life of love, forgiveness, and righteousness.
– Marceline Rebello