In Luke 6:27-28, we read: “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.”
“That’s our verse for tonight.” Grandfather put his glasses on his Bible.
‘But I’m not good like you, Grandfather.” Timmy dipped his chin.
“Humm. Not about being good but about choosing wisely. “Let me tell you a story about a friend.” Timmy nodded.
“Sam had many friends but, Jake, he loved like a brother. They hunted, fished, studied together. After graduation, they went to different universities.
"When Christmas came, Jake didn’t come home. He'd disappeared. His parents searched for him, had detectives hunt for him. He’d vanished.
“Years later, Sam happened past an inn, stopped for the night. Attacked, robbed and left for dead, the innkeeper found him, rushed him to the hospital. He survived but was handicapped.
“He returned to thank the innkeeper. He heard a gasp. Sitting by the fire, hate distorting his face, sat Jake. ‘You surprised me. You survived.’ Bitterness boiled up in Sam. Jake, sitting there, no remorse for his actions. Sam made a choice. He could be bitter like Jake or forgive...but he didn’t feel like forgiving. Then he remembered. The Lord Jesus forgave his sins and now He abided in him.
‘Lord, you’ll have to help me forgive Jake,’ he prayed, then said. ‘I forgive you, Jake.'
‘What happened to Jake, Grandfather?' He tilted his head. ‘Is that why you limp when you walk?'
“Someday I’ll tell you the rest of the story.” Grandfather hugged Timmy. ‘Choose love.’”
Kingdom Thinking. I admit I find it difficult, no, impossible, to forgive and love my enemies. But not so for the Lord Jesus--He prayed for them while on the cross. He abides in me, He loves and shows me how to love my enemies for I was once an enemy of the Lord. He is able to do the same for you. He loves you with an everlasting love and He will never leave nor forsake you. Won’t you choose Him?
“That’s our verse for tonight.” Grandfather put his glasses on his Bible.‘But I’m not good like you, Grandfather.” Timmy dipped his chin.
“Humm. Not about being good but about choosing wisely. “Let me tell you a story about a friend.” Timmy nodded.
“Sam had many friends but, Jake, he loved like a brother. They hunted, fished, studied together. After graduation, they went to different universities.
"When Christmas came, Jake didn’t come home. He'd disappeared. His parents searched for him, had detectives hunt for him. He’d vanished.
“Years later, Sam happened past an inn, stopped for the night. Attacked, robbed and left for dead, the innkeeper found him, rushed him to the hospital. He survived but was handicapped.
“He returned to thank the innkeeper. He heard a gasp. Sitting by the fire, hate distorting his face, sat Jake. ‘You surprised me. You survived.’ Bitterness boiled up in Sam. Jake, sitting there, no remorse for his actions. Sam made a choice. He could be bitter like Jake or forgive...but he didn’t feel like forgiving. Then he remembered. The Lord Jesus forgave his sins and now He abided in him.
‘Lord, you’ll have to help me forgive Jake,’ he prayed, then said. ‘I forgive you, Jake.'‘What happened to Jake, Grandfather?' He tilted his head. ‘Is that why you limp when you walk?'
“Someday I’ll tell you the rest of the story.” Grandfather hugged Timmy. ‘Choose love.’”
Kingdom Thinking. I admit I find it difficult, no, impossible, to forgive and love my enemies. But not so for the Lord Jesus--He prayed for them while on the cross. He abides in me, He loves and shows me how to love my enemies for I was once an enemy of the Lord. He is able to do the same for you. He loves you with an everlasting love and He will never leave nor forsake you. Won’t you choose Him?