Video game villains have evolved a LOT over the years… while our original antagonists like Ganon and Bowser had fairly basic motivations (making our lives difficult simply because they could), in our modern games these characters possess incredibly complex backstories that can almost makes us feel sorry for them. But even if we are sympathetic to the suffering and pain that set them on this villainous path, we still choose to head into battle with an arsenal of weapons to take them down at the end of the game… and the more challenging that final battle is, the less sympathetic we become. By the time they unveil their third full health bar, we’re pretty much over their story and ready to advance our own.

The antagonists in our lives don’t make it easy on us, but Christ didn’t ask us to merely tolerate our enemies or to simply coexist with them… we are commanded to LOVE them, BLESS them, and PRAY for them. Sure, they may be behaving like irredeemable scoundrels right now… but so have we, and He loved us anyways. We advance His mission by demonstrating love and praying for the Lord to break the chains that torment them just as He once broke ours. Let’s pray for our enemies today the same way that someone, somewhere prayed for us when we were just as unlovable. His love is how the lost get found.

But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. Luke 6:27-28

But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:32-33, 35-36

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