Here we come to another imperative from Christ. As his disciples we are to “bless those who persecute [us].” This is hard word that runs contrary to the way of this world and the way of our bent hearts but it is the way of Christ and his kingdom. How can we hope to obey this command? Though we will not always get this right, by remembering first, that Jesus blessed us when we were his enemies and second, that Jesus now lives in us, we can lean into this command as his redeemed people, resisting what is most natural and learning to walk in the new way of his kingdom.
