Joseph said to his brothers, “Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good.” Genesis 50:20 

“But I(Jesus) say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; Bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:27-28-

Jesus asks some hard things of us. If you have been mistreated, can you pray for that person? Or if someone were to curse you --- can you actually ask for blessings for them? That’s not the reaction most of us would have. The  driver that cuts you off in traffic – don’t think my first thought is to pray for them.

There are good examples of people who have done this, over things more major than being cut off in traffic. I recently received an article from my  Amnesty International local group, about Nelson Mandela. He was finally out of prison and elected President of South Africa. He had his military escort take him to a restaurant where there was another man waiting to be served. Once that man had his food, Mandela invited him to their table; the man sat down and trembled through the whole meal, Mandela stood and shook his hand when he left. . When asked if the man was ill, Mandela said “No, he was the warden of the prison where I stayed” , he treated me terribly and assumes I will do the same to him. Yet there was reconciliation in South Africa, not a race war.

Mandela went on to say ′′Minds that seek revenge destroy states, while those that seek reconciliation build nations. Walking out the door to my freedom, I knew that if I didn't leave all the anger, hatred and resentment behind me, I would still be a prisoner."

Then, we read in book study, Dancing in the Darkness,  about the church where a white man came and joined a Bible study in a Black church and killed nine of those attending. His hateful aim was to ignite a race war, assuming there would be retaliation by one group against another. However, the reaction among those whose loved ones were killed was forgiveness. Hard to do, but it is the way of Jesus, who loves all of us as God’s children.

Lord, help us to be better neighbors. Your commandment says that we should forgive those who act against us, but we often fail to do so. Help us let go of our judgement and vengeance, to forgive those who we deem unforgiveable, and to love our neighbors in the way you intend. Amen.

Chris Gabel

Ministries
Teaching Mission Party