WANT PEACE?

WANT PEACE

Have you ever been faced with a situation where someone has done you serious harm? Did you experience an initial desire to strike back? The natural reaction might include a deep resentment that can lead to a long lasting grudge that could very well harm yourself. Harboring grudges is always destructive to the well being of the one who is not willing to forgive.

On several occasions during my adult years I have faced such trying times. Before I met and embraced my Savior these occasions caused me to suffer from my dwelling on those hurts. After I received Jesus, the Holy Spirit gave me a defense against my own weakness to repay evil with evil. I first noticed that God had truly entered my life and gave me a spirit of forgiveness that was genuine. My reaction to these attacks was to show genuine love for my “enemies” by treating them with kindness and respect. In the greatest test in my life those “enemies” are now my dear friends. I did nothing more than to treat them with respect and a friendly attitude. I take no credit for this because that was not my nature, it was a gift of grace from God through the Holy Spirit.

Later as I studied the Word, I discovered a passage of scripture that goes like this; “ If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.
Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” Romans 12:20-21

When we live for Christ we sometimes will be “attacked” by some who simply do not understand our good intentions, then they “attack” us in many ways because of our Faith. We must rejoice in that type of suffering for it is foretold by Jesus that this would happen. When Jesus said the we must take up our CROSS and follow Him, He wasn’t
referring to sickness and disease but rather the suffering that we would suffer for following Him.

May we then be glad when we are taken to task for doing good and LOVE OUR ENEMIES. In this way we are obeying Jesus. In this way some will be led to follow Jesus by our love them and sharing Jesus by example.

Just this past week I had a casual conversation  with two dedicated, genuine  Cristians
who I know are loving people and are good witnesses for our Lord Jesus.   Yet what came from their mouths   was "shocking"  to me in a very real sense.  They both spoke of several issues in their lives that led to grudges. Wow, what a waste of God's good grace.  Grudges are a great impediment to our enjoying good health of mind, spirit and body.  Resentments physically harm the non forgiving person.  Some even develop  mental stress that is proven to a a precursor to many illnesses and diseases the can even kill a person. Do we want that? I am sure you are thinking a resounding NO!  The CURE for all of this is FORGIVENESS.  Do not just work on it.  Your are in the possession; God's GRACE. We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us.

Our Father, "and forgive us our sins as we forgive others."  This prayer is asking God to NOT FORGIVE US IF WE ARE UNFORGIVING.  BE CAREFUL, DO NOT IGNORE AND WASTE GOD'S GRACIOUS GIFT OF FAITH.  F O R G I V E AND BE TRULY HAPPY AND HEALTHY OF MIND, SPIRIT, AND BODY. LET US FORGIVE AND BE HAPPY.