The table of the 10 commandments tells us to: Love God and love our neighbor. Though our neighbor includes even our enemies (like the parable of the Good Samaritan demonstrates), it only includes human beings, whose souls can be saved. God wants us to love everyone for whom Christ has died, because God also loves them. There is still hope that their hearts might change and they might become vessels of God's love.

The devil is eternally lost. He is only bent on the destruction of God's kingdom. We agree with God's eternal condemnation of the devil and Satan's buddies. We pray for the devil's failure. We must make every effort to hate him and his deeds, so that we are not tricked into falling for the temptations he offers, sometimes as our 'friend.'

Since the devil is the embodiment of evil and he wishes the world to be consumed by his evil, Psalm 97:10 applies to him, "Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked."

We are to loathe the devil, just as we will loathe him and every damned soul on Judgment Day: "And they (the redeemed) will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind."

For those who were hardened beyond salvation, God commanded Jeremiah 3 times, "Do not pray for this people" (cf. Jeremiah 7:16, 11:14, 14:11). We should not waste prayer and love on a permanent enemy of love and everything that is good.

We don't know who the hardened are, so we show love to all people and leave God to judge. But the devil is already judged. God will never love him; nor should we. Even with people, when we see that certain individuals are unrepentant after vigorous efforts to help them, we are told not to cast pearls among the swine. The greatest porker of them all is the devil.

Does that answer your question?

In Christ, in whom perfect love and justice are satisfied,
Pastor

Here is the last update from Pastor Sonntag and further details about Pastor Lor’s illness:

Thursday, February 16, 2006

As of yesterday, Pastor Lor had stabilized, which is really great news. He had been going down hill even when he appeared to be (once in awhile) getting better. The only thing that I have heard it called is "infection on the brain." They are hitting it with 24/7 antibiotics. When I had devotion with him, he opened his eyes, reached out of the covers with his left hand and when I placed mine there, he squeezed it and shook his head ‘yes’ and ‘no’ when I addressed questions to him. We pray that God will continue to grant him health.

Pastor Sonntag

Brothers and sisters,

I would like to request your prayers on behalf of
David Neng Lor. David is a WELS pastor, having been
trained by our brothers in Minnesota, and graduating from

Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary last spring.

In fall of 2005, he was installed to be Hmong outreach pastor with

St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Sacramento CA.

In January, Pastor Lor went to Minnesota for a funeral
in his family; when he returned he had to go to the
hospital because the side of his face was paralyzed
and he had terrible pain. Now, after 3 weeks, the
paralysis has spread down one side; his pain has
increased, and speech is impaired. The doctors are
not sure what is causing it. Last week they were sure
it was meningitis but now they have backed off that
diagnosis. It seems to be an infection in his brain;
it has not responded to antibiotics.

His prognosis is uncertain. The doctors have been
frustrated that they cannot pinpoint the illness or
find an effective cure. Hmong work in Sacramento is
on hold. Pastor Lor's salary was to be supplemented
by selling firewood at a roadside stand, but obviously
Pastor Lor is not able to oversee the business. His
wife and eight children are being provided for with
donations from individuals and WELS organizations, but
more is needed.

Pray that the LORD, who knows and cares for his
children, will bring his Word's comfort to Pastor Lor,
and if it is his will, grant him recovery sufficient
to resume his work at St Andrew, reaching out to the
Hmong people of Sacramento.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” – I CORINTHIANS 13:4-7 NIV

Lord,
Because love is patient…
Help me to be slow to judge, but quick to listen.
Hesitant to criticize, but eager to encourage,
remembering your endless patience with me.

Because love is kind…
Help my words to be gentle and my actions to be thoughtful. Remind me to smile and to say “Please” and “Thank You”
because those little things still mean so much.

Because love does not envy or boast, and it is not proud…
Help me have a heart that is humble and sees the good in others. May I celebrate and appreciate all that I have and all that I am, as well as doing the same for those around me.

Because love is not rude or self-seeking…
Help me to speak words that are easy on the ear and on the heart. When I’m tempted to get wrapped up in my own little world, remind me there’s a great big world out there full of needs and hurts.

Because love is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs…
Help me to forgive others as you have forgiven me. When I want to hold onto a grudge, gently help me release it so I can reach out with a hand of love instead.

Because love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth…
Help me stand up for what is right and good. May I defend the defenseless and help the helpless. Show me how I can make a difference.

Because love always protects and always trusts…
Help me to be a refuge for those around me. When the world outside is harsh and cold, may my heart be a place of acceptance and warmth.

Finally, because love always perseveres…
Help my heart continually beat with love for You and others. Thank you for this day when we celebrate love, and for showing us what that word really means. Amen.

Holley Gerth
Writer/Creative Manager of DaySpring Cards