1.
Loving Your Enemies
"But I [Jesus] say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."1
Bob Lewis relates the story of a Christian woman "who owned two prize-winning chickens. One afternoon, the chickens worked their way out of her yard and into her neighbor's garden. The neighbor, known for his hot temper, captured both birds, wrung their necks and then threw their lifeless carcasses across the fence into the Christian's yard.
"The woman was understandably hurt and considered giving her neighbor a piece of her mind. Instead, she took the chickens home and prepared two chicken pot pies. Whereupon she took one to her neighbor and then apologized for not being more watchful of her chickens. The man was speechless. The chicken pot pie coupled with an apology filled him with such a sense of burning shame that his whole life began to change."
Need I say more?
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I find it real easy to love those who are lovable but don't know how to love my enemies and those who would mistreat me. Please help me to grow in love so that I will always be 'as Christ' to everyone—friend or foe. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. Matthew 5:44 (NKJV).
<:))))><
NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness for all your sins and His invitation for a full and free pardon Click HERE.
Or if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, please click HERE to note this.
Post your comment about today's Daily Encounter:
The following comments do not necessarily reflect the views of Dick Innes or ACTS International. ACTS International reserves the right to filter out comment blog entries which might be unsuitable or inappropriate. Also, please keep comments related to today's Daily Encounter concise—from 10 to 12 lines maximum. And please click on the "Add Your Comment" only ONE time.
|
"Some attributes are not easy to cultivate but their effect is profund and life changing. This makes all efforts to acquire them worthwhile. God will take us there if only we can let Him."
--Adefemi Adejola (Nigeria)
Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:01:01 AM