Deal With It In Your Heart
I've been sharing about our life-changing experience with the evangelical Arab Christian churches in Israel, who are leading Jews, Muslims and nominal Christian Arabs into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Today, I want you to meet some more of the people we met along the way.
Sai'd Salamah was a small boy when Israel became a state in 1948. But he remembers that date very well. His family was living in Haifa in the three story house that his grandfather had built on property owned by his great grandfather. Then one day, Israeli authorities showed up at their door and told them they would all have to leave their home—all eleven of the—because the building was substandard. With thee promise that the new government would improve the property, they found themselves crammed into a two-room flat.
When the Salamah family later visited their property to see if repairs had been made so they could return, they found three Jewish families living there. Their property had been confiscated and given to Jews—simply because they were Arabs. It would take Sai'd and his brothers almost a generation to get their property back and they had to buy it back—one level at a time, which they did.
When I heard this story I found myself becoming very angry at the injustice. Sai'd could sense my emotion and said to me, "You must learn as I have, to deal with matters like this with your heart—not in your mind. Your mind will tell you to do something about it—take matters in your own hands and avenge the wrong—but in your heart, as a Christian, Jesus tells us what to do—and that is to forgive." I was glad he said that, and he was right of course. I remembered the words of Jesus:
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you." — Luke 6:27-31
"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." — Matthew 6:14
These verses mean more to me now than ever before. How about you? Is there an enemy in your life that you need to bless and pray for—and forgive? Deal with it with your heart, my friends, and you'll be set free forever. That's God promise.
Pastor Don
Sai'd Salamah was a small boy when Israel became a state in 1948. But he remembers that date very well. His family was living in Haifa in the three story house that his grandfather had built on property owned by his great grandfather. Then one day, Israeli authorities showed up at their door and told them they would all have to leave their home—all eleven of the—because the building was substandard. With thee promise that the new government would improve the property, they found themselves crammed into a two-room flat.
When the Salamah family later visited their property to see if repairs had been made so they could return, they found three Jewish families living there. Their property had been confiscated and given to Jews—simply because they were Arabs. It would take Sai'd and his brothers almost a generation to get their property back and they had to buy it back—one level at a time, which they did.
When I heard this story I found myself becoming very angry at the injustice. Sai'd could sense my emotion and said to me, "You must learn as I have, to deal with matters like this with your heart—not in your mind. Your mind will tell you to do something about it—take matters in your own hands and avenge the wrong—but in your heart, as a Christian, Jesus tells us what to do—and that is to forgive." I was glad he said that, and he was right of course. I remembered the words of Jesus:
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you." — Luke 6:27-31
"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." — Matthew 6:14
These verses mean more to me now than ever before. How about you? Is there an enemy in your life that you need to bless and pray for—and forgive? Deal with it with your heart, my friends, and you'll be set free forever. That's God promise.
Pastor Don
posted by Don Kimbro | 4:10 PM
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