Bless Those Who Hurt You: When Love Defies Nature
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them." — Romans 12:14 (ESV)
Some of you reading this today have recently walked through a season of persecution — or are in one right now. If that's you, the names and faces of your persecutors aren't hard to recall. They're right there. I know, because I've been there. It's still very raw and painful, many years later.
But this verse offers hope, and it starts in a place you might not expect.
A wise friend recently told me that the key to living at peace with others (Romans 12:18) is to forgive those who have wronged us. And the key to forgiveness is to cultivate a heart that seeks to bless the very people who persecute you (Romans 12:20). That sounds impossible. Our old nature says, "Curse those who cursed me." But our new nature — the one Christ is building in us — says, "Bless those who cursed me."
How? Jesus shows us the way. While being tortured and crucified, He prayed for the very people killing Him: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). You'd expect that from Jesus, but what about an ordinary person like you and me?
Look at Acts 7:60. Stephen — a regular man, not a prophet or an apostle — is being stoned to death for his faith. In his final breath, he cries out, "Lord Jesus, do not hold this sin against them." An ordinary person, responding with extraordinary grace. That's what the Holy Spirit makes possible.
God isn't asking you to feel warm and fuzzy toward those who hurt you. He's asking you to move toward blessing them — not because they deserve it, but because Christ-filled love seeks the best for people, regardless of how they've harmed us. That's countercultural. It defies every instinct. Yet it's the path to freedom, because bitterness is a prison and blessing is the key that unlocks it.
As Romans 12:21 reminds us, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Big Idea
Your old nature says curse them. Your new nature says bless them. That's not weakness — it's Christ-centered love, and it's the hardest command you'll ever obey. But Jesus did it from a cross, and Stephen did it under a pile of stones. If the Spirit made it possible for them, He can make it possible for you.
Questions to Ponder
Is there someone who has persecuted or deeply wronged you whose name and face still come to mind quickly? Have you ever considered blessing them? What emotions surface when you consider this? Why do you think it's so hard to consider blessing this person or these people?
Application
If you're experiencing persecution or have faced it in the past, and those who wronged you remain in your life without your forgiveness, consider forgiving them — and take one specific action this week to bless them. A prayer. A kind word. An unexpected act of grace. Important: this does not apply to situations where contact is unhealthy or unsafe. It applies only when the Lord prompts you to act. Not every situation is the same, and some require total separation.
Before the Lord — a daily devotional by Blake S. Crawford. Read more and subscribe free at blakescrawford.com/before-the-lord.