email : Webview : Duane Brooks - Every Day with Jesus

April 12, 2019

2 Kings 6:22-23

“Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.

New International Version (NIV)

                 What would you do if your worst enemy fell right into your hands? We may have imagined that scenario. When Israel was under siege from the Arameans, the prophet Elisha and his servant temporarily blinded the enemies and led them right into the capital city. When the King saw his enemy he asked the prophet if he could eliminate them. He had been waiting for this moment.

                Instead, Elisha encouraged him to feed them. Once they had eaten, instead of harming them or keeping them as captives, he sent them on their way. Does this sound dangerous? What if you release them? Won’t they hurt you? No. Because they were shown mercy they stopped attacking Israel.

                Was it Gandhi who said if we all practice an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, the world will soon be blind and toothless. What if we tried forgiveness and kindness? Chesterton was right: “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried."

                As I have been praying the Lord’s prayer each day this past month, I ask the Lord, “Who are my debtors? Have I forgiven them?” The Lord continues to reveal to me people I have not forgiven so that I can forgive them. I know. This is the real world. It is dog eat dog. You and I are not dogs, but children of God. When we were his enemies (Romans 5:6-10), he showed us kindness. This kindness led us to repentance and to new life in Christ. If it worked in our lives, it will work in our relationships with others. Let’s prayerfully try it today!

Pray with me:

Father, show us those who are in our debt so that we may release them today. Then release us from our overwhelming debts to you, also we pray. Remind us again of the price you paid to purchase our salvation. Thank you for dying for us when we were still your enemies so that we might become your children. Help us to put Christianity into practice. Now. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan. Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download
the app at readscripture.org. Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully,
Duane

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