[soc.religion.christian] Matthew 5:44

ROBERT@kontu.utu.fi (Robert W. Johnson) (04/29/91)

But I say unto you, Love your enemies.  Matthew 5.44.

I knew one man that hated another.  The other man had deeply sinned against
him, and so great was the injury that to have killed him would have seemed
scant revenge.  The one sinned against came to know the Lord, and for years
saw nothing of the other man.  Then, visiting a certain town, he went on 
Sunday to join the local believers for the Communion service.  Just after he
was introduced, he suddenly saw in the meeting his former enemy.  He said
to himself, "He is here!  I did not know that he was saved.  What shall I
do?"  During the next prayer he got up quietly and went out.  He began to 
walk away and as he walked he thought on the one hand of his salvation and 
on the other hand of his grievance against this man.  The further he got 
away the worse he felt at having left the meeting and on the other hand
the more incensed against his enemy.  Then he thought back ten years to the
time when he was saved and how the Lord had forgiven him.  Yet he felt he 
could not forgive his enemy.  But the Spirit brought to his mind the word:
"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one 
to another."  He stopped short.  "Lord, I forgive him!"  he cried, and turning,
went back to the meeting with tears streaming down his face.  When he arrived
they were just about to break the bread, so he arose and confessed it all,
telling them how God had removed the hatred from his heart.

-----
Robert W. Johnson
Computer center, The University of Turku, Turku Finland
robert@kontu.utu.fi 	(InterNet)
robert@firien.bitnet    (BITNET)

The preceeding is my opinion and may not express the opinion of my employer
and furthermore has nothing to do with my employment.