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As believers in the Lord, it is important that we always keep focused in
leading our life by God's example of love. It is easy for us to love those
who love us, but God's commandment tells us to love your enemy and pray for
them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. We are to show the
same compassion to our enemy as we would to our friend. Showing God's love
to a hurting and dying world is the believer's way of showing them Who
rules our hearts. Be encouraged to be an example of God's love to everyone
you come into contact with especially towards that one who has done
something wrong against you. Returning love for hate is sure to make an
impact that can never be erased. (Matthew 5:43-45) (Matthew 5:13-16)
I hope you are encouraged by today's message to be an example of God's love
and forgiveness.
TAMATOE
Tamatoe (Ta-ma-TOE-eh), king of Huahine, an island about 80 miles west
northwest of Tahiti, became a Christian in 1818 as a result of the labors
of missionaries from the London Missionary Society. Some of Tamatoe's
heathen neighbors on a nearby island hated Christianity and determined to
burn Tamatoe to death, along with those who had become Christians with him.
However, the plot was discovered by the Christians, and a band of them hid
near the landing site. As their enemies leaped from their canoes in the
dark, they were disarmed without receiving any physical harm. Now
weaponless, the heathen's were sure they were going to be put to a cruel
death. We can imagine their surprise when Tamatoe and his fellow
Christians treated them kindly because, as they explained, Jesus taught His
followers to be kind to their enemies.
But the Christians went further. They prepared a sumptuous feast and
invited their former enemies to partake of it with them. At the end of the
repast one of the heathen chiefs stood up and said that because of this
unexpected kindness, he had decided to become a follower of Christ. Others
joined him, and within days every heathen idol on their island was
destroyed and the people became Christians.
By Vesta Mansell
I encourage you to Forgive. Even if the person who wronged you never admits
it, or seems to suffer for what they've done. Forgiving will set you free
and enable you to move forward, and that is what's important! Never
underestimate the power of forgiveness. It's the one power you always have
over the person who hurt you. Lincoln said, "The best way to destroy an
enemy is to make him a friend." Forgiveness will put a spring in your
spiritual step, and give you a second wind for the race of life. Go ahead,
forgive, and see what happens!
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
1 John 4:10-12 "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved
us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God
so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at
any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is
perfected in us."
Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus declares "For if ye forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their
trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Romans 12:17-21 "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest
in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live
peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather
give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay,
saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst,
give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
1 Peter 3:8-11 "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of
another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil
for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that
ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that
will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil,
and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good;
let him seek peace, and ensue it."
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: LOVE IN THE HOME
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem143.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: FATHER KNOWS BEST
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony109.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
