The other day during my Encounter Time, I read the following-and familiar-passage: “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.” (Pr. 25: 21-22 NASB)
I hear and have used that passage to teach not seeking revenge. It is human nature to want to defend ourselves, to put up a fight if we feel we have been wronged. “An eye for an eye.” “Don’t tread on me.” “Stay in your own space and we will be okay. But DO NOT cross the line.”
And if they cross us in any way, shape, or form. LOOK OUT!
Today I read the story of a woman who was a student at Cambridge in the 1940s and decided to join the Communist Party (CP) as a secretary. The winter of 1946-1947 was brutal, causing water pipes to freeze, thereby causing a water shortage. They were allowed one shower a week and not even the secretary of the CP could avoid the long lines that developed in the ladies dorm at Cambridge. The jockeying and grumbling were intense. But this woman could not help but observe the actions of one. She had direct access to the bathroom but never asserted her rights and responded gently to the selfishness of others. Upon investigation, this secretary found out the girl was a Christian who was practicing and living what the Communist claimed but did not do. That observation led to a conversation, which led to a conversion, which led to a new missionary in the Far East.
And just think this through with me: if that Christ-follower had reacted in kind to the way she had been treated? I don’t need to tell you the result.
She chose to act as Jesus would. She chose to live Proverbs 25: 21-22 in real life.
Just imagine if we would do that as well. Go ahead. Do it! Imagine. And now what?
As I read your post this morning, I can’t help but to be more aware, even a little anxious. I feel like this is the 3rd knock at the door. A book I finished reading yesterday ended with this subject. A devotion I have been reading was on this subject. Now your post. I don’t feel like I have been holding onto anything, but perhaps. Or is it for something to come. Perhaps a knee jerk response, I have made in the past that needs reconciled. More searching is needed.
I believe that sometimes God uses multiple “knocks” to get our attention. Don’t hear once? Knock again. I’m just glad to hear you are open to listening to God’s still small voice (at least that is what it is now). 🙂
Oh, wow, Bill, that’s such a powerful story! May we all try our best to imitate Jesus’ love for others every time we’re given the opportunity.
Blessings!
I was equally blown away Martha. I’m not sure that would have been me. I would like to say it would but… As I said yesterday, good to have you back.
If only we could just follow , to love one another as Christ loves us. When we do that, it’s amazing the other lives it touches and what God can do with that. How awesome it would be to see highlight films in heaven of how our love and kindness helped shape someone else’s lives. We can never go wrong following Jesus’s ways.
I agree Gail. What a treat (maybe) it would be to see whom and how we influenced others