May 18
"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one
another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13.
In his remarkable book, THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, Dr. Emmet Fox deals with our forgiving
those who hurt us. In the chapter, Resist Not Evil, he states, "...When someone
injures you, instead of seeking to get your own back or to repay him in his own coin, you
are to do the very oppositeyou are to forgive him, and set him free. No matter what
the provocation may be, and no matter how many times it is repeated, you are to do this.
You are to loose him and let him go, for thus only can you be freed yourselfthus only can
you possess your own soul. To return evil for evil, to answer violence with violence and
hate with hate, is to start a vicious circle to which there is no ending but the wearing
out of your own life and your brother's, too.
"Antagonize any situation, and you give it power against yourself; offer mental
nonresistance, and it crumbles away in front of you." Dr. Fox points out that
"the mere rehearsing in thought of any difficulty endows it with new life. Going over
old grievances mentally; thinking how badly someone acted at some time, for instance, and
recalling the details, has the effect of revivifying that which was quietly expiring of
neglect."
By mentally resisting what we feel is a bad circumstance, we give it power and life and,
in the process, deplete our own spiritual energies and, perhaps, even our physical
stamina. Resentment fosters selfpity which fosters inability to act and react in a
Christlike way. In our anger and frustration, we also are tempted to give others "a
piece of our mind" and, in the process, lose our own peace of mind.
Pat Nordman ©
Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions |
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"In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him." - Colossians 2:9, 10 |
"Afterward." - Hebrews 12:11 |
How vast his grace, how firm his faithfulness, how unswerving his immutability, how infinite his power, how limitless his knowledge! All these are by the Lord Jesus made the pillars of the temple of salvation; and all, without diminution of their infinity, are covenanted to us as our perpetual inheritance. |
How happy are tried Christians, afterwards. No calm more deep than that which succeeds a storm. Who has not rejoiced in clear shinings after rain? ... It is peace, sweet, deep peace, which follows the horrible turmoil which once reigned in our tormented, guilty souls. See, then, the happy estate of a Christian! He has his best things last, and he therefore in this world receives his worst things first. |
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Current Bible Question ?
Who made the ark of the covenant?
Previous question and Answer:
When Elijah challenged the priests of Baal, what were they sacrificing to their god?
A bullock 1 Kings 18:25
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..and by his light I walked through darkness! JOB 29:3 NIV
No Restrictions by Pat Nordman
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Loving someone is the easy
partit is the living with someone that turns our heart into sour mash that becomes
bitter and unpalatable. This admonition to be kind and to forgive narrows it down to all,
but especially those in very close quarters, such as the kin. If the Kinsman can be kind,
then we can be kind to the kin! |
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Send a note to © Pat Nordman , the writer of this devotion |
More Walking Through the Darkness
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