August 31, 2023
1 Samuel 24:16-22
16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”  22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
New International Version (NIV)
"A gentle answer turns away wrath. . ." (Proverbs 15:1).  Do we believe that?   David proved it before his son Solomon wrote it.
When Saul pursued David, he walked right into his hands.  This was David's big chance to get revenge.  Instead, David cut off a piece of Saul's robe but did him no harm.  What kind of battle tactic was that?  David trusted God to fulfill his promise and make him king.
I have heard in recent days about pastors who faced opposition for reading Jesus' words about forgiving and loving our enemies.  Church members told their pastors they thought Jesus was too soft.  Did you hear that?  We can be sure that Jesus was not wrong.
How do we change the world?  Shall we use the world's tactics?  Jesus saved the world by dying for it.  He told us to take up our cross daily and follow him.  If we want to know whether a gentle answer can turn away wrath, we can try it.  What have we got to lose?  We may gain a brother or sister!  
Pray with me:
Father, help us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us.  Make us more like Jesus we pray.  In his holy name.   Amen. 
Our 2023 Every Day with Jesus readings are taken from Robert Murray M'Cheyne's Bible Reading Calendar. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy here:
2023 Reading Plan
Please join us in reading through the scriptures again this year.  We will read the New Testament twice and the Old Testament once this year. M'Cheyne once said, “A man is who he is on his knees, and nothing more.”  Would you pray with me that God will make his word live to us this year?  Let’s not just get through the Bible.  Let it get through to us!

Joyfully, 
Duane 
About Duane Archives
 Copyright 2023. All Rights Reserved.
Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
555 Tallowood Road
Houston, TX | 77024 US
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
Subscribe to our email list.