Archive | April 19th, 2014

April 19th – “I’ll Never Forgive”




In William James book “Varieties of Religious Experience” he tells about a collier called Richard Weaver, whose early days were filled by getting drunk and bare fist fighting as a semi-professional pugilist.He was converted to Christ, but relapsed into pounding a man senseless who had insulted a girl and went on, got drunk,and broke the jaw of another man who accused him of being a Christian coward.Well, Christ didn’t give up on him, and later he became a great Christian evangelist.Here is but one incident from his later life.
At the mine he found a boy crying because a big miner called Tom had taken his wagon.
“Tom, you mustn’t take that wagon”.
He swore at me, called me a Methodist devil, and threatened to push the wagon over me.
“Well”, I said, “Let’s see if the devil and thee are stronger than the Lord and me”.
The Lord and me were stronger and he had to get out of the way.
“I’ve a good mind to clout thee on they face” said Tom. “Do it” I said, and he did, and again five times.I put my chin to him for the sixth punch, and he turned away cursing me.I called, “The Lord forgives thee, for I do, and the Lord save thee”.
It was Saturday. My wife saw my face, and I said “I’ve given a man a good thrashing”.She burst into tears, thinking I had begun fighting again:then she thanked God I had not struck him back.
Monday came. Weaver was worried the other miners would mock him for not defending himself.Tom was the first man he saw: “Good morning” I said.No reply. He went first into the mine, and was sat on a wagon waiting for me. He burst into tears, and said “Richard will you forgive me striking you?”.
“I have already forgiven thee. Ask God to forgive thee, and bless thee”.I gave him my hand, and we went each to his work.
Do you not think that a wonderful testimony to Jesus?
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered: “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times”. Matthew 18: 21-22Matthew 18: 21-22
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.  

WP-Bible plugin

A Prayer:
Father, forgive us unconditionally, for Jesus sake, and help us to then forgive others in the same way.

Now read Matthew 18: 21-35Matthew 18: 21-35
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. talents: a talent is ounces of silver, at a hundred and eleven cents the ounce 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. worshipped him: or, besought him 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. pence: the Roman penny is the eighth part of an ounce, which after five shillings the ounce is seven pence halfpenny; about fourteen cents 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.  

WP-Bible plugin
.

Comments (0)

Thought 4 The Day

Christ rose again, but our sins did not; they are buried for ever in his grave. (J. Brown)

THROUGH THE YEAR CALENDAR

April 2014
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930  

Click on any previous date in the above calendar to read the relevant Through The Year post
Believe it or Not
Sometimes you just can't believe it's true!
A Word in Time
Life has a funny way of connecting us all!
Cooke's Tour of The Bible
Frank Cooke's journey through the Old and New Testaments
Take 2
Some useful life lessons
Mind Stretchers
An open mind is a healthy mind!
Bible Bloopers
Even the Bible has its funnies!