Stephen Olford tells of a Baptist pastor during the American Revolution, Peter Miller, who lived in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, and enjoyed the friendship of George Washington. In Ephrata also lived Michael Wittman, an evil-minded sort who did all he could to oppose and humiliate the pastor. One day Michael Wittman was arrested for treason and sentenced to die. Peter Miller traveled seventy miles on foot to Philadelphia to plead for the life of the traitor. “No, Peter,” General Washington said. “I cannot grant you the life of your friend.” “My friend!” exclaimed the old preacher. “He’s the bitterest enemy I have.” “What?” cried Washington. “You’ve walked seventy miles to save the life of an enemy? That puts the matter in a different light. I’ll grant your pardon.” And he did. Peter Miller took Michael Wittman back home to Ephrata–no longer an enemy but a friend.

When we think of enemies, we tend to think of groups and not of individuals. If someone asks us, “Who are your enemies?” we are likely to think of those nation-states that hate the West—the old Soviet Union, the Chinese Communist party, or Islamic terrorists.

Seldom do you or I think of personal enemies—a relative, a neighbor, a co-worker, or a member of the homeowners’ association —who hates us and harms us without cause…until it happens! If we live long enough on this earth, we will encounter personal enemies who do us great harm.

The Apostle Paul certainly did. In his second letter to Timothy he warned Timothy saying, “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.” (2Ti 4:14 NAS)

Paul does not tell us what harm came his way. When an enemy does us harm, it may be a betrayal that breaks up a family; it might be a malicious coworker who undermines us and we lose our job; it might be a relative who abuses a child dear to us; it might be physical or emotional abuse from someone who once professed love for us.

And when an enemy causes us “much harm,” we are traumatized. The scenes of that trauma play over and over in our minds. Trauma may take over and define our lives for a very long time. The harm goes on and on, disfiguring heart and soul. How do we avoid the trap of obsession? How do we avoid retaliatory hatred? How can our hearts be healed?

Jesus spoke about personal enemies in the Sermon on the Mount. He said everything we need to know:

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Mat 5:43-45 NAS)

Jesus tells us to love our enemies. And love is not just a warm feeling. It requires action. But we are not often in a position, as was Pastor Miller, to do good to our enemy. The harm my enemy does puts distance between us. We may never see them again. Or our enemy is implacable and refuses to be reconciled and continues to do harm. It is then even more difficult to love them or bless them in practical ways. What to do?

The answer, I think, lies in Jesus’ second command: “pray for them.” But what to pray?

The most potent prayer anyone ever offered for an enemy is the one Jesus prayed from the cross. He prayed that his Father would forgive them. We must follow Jesus’ example. When God answers our prayer, it will be a great good to our enemies but, more importantly, healing for us.

I have an enemies list. Oh, not the kind President Nixon kept, but those for whom I pray. I pray the Father will forgive them, grant them repentance, give them better minds, redeem them, and reconcile them as brothers or sisters.

Let the healing begin!

I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me–Dietrich Bonhoeffer