Dear Daily Message Readers,
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV) "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Os Hillman, author of yearlong devotion series for those who are in the workplace, tells the story of one his closest friends who experienced great suffering for the soul of his persecutor. He recalls:
This man worked on a cargo ship. His boss was the captain. This friend was a committed Christian who shared his faith with others and was a good worker. One day the friend led the sea captain's girlfriend to Christ. The sea captain already hated and ridiculed the Christian worker because of his faith in Christ. When his girlfriend came to Christ, she stopped sleeping with the captain. The captain blamed the Christian man for the change in his girlfriend. One day he entered the restaurant where the Christian man was having lunch. He walked over to his table and began hurling obscenities and began beating him. The Christian man simply tried to defend himself but did not fight back. The captain kept beating him until eventually the man lay on the floor bleeding.
Two men entered the restaurant and saw what was taking place. They jumped the sea captain and took him outside and began beating him. The sea captain was beaten so badly that he needed immediate medical attention. The Christian worker saw the condition of the sea captain, came to his aid, and began helping him. The sea captain was so moved that this man could do this after he had literally beaten him bloody that he began to weep, not understanding what could move a man to have such love in the face of being beaten. The sea captain accepted Jesus at that moment.
What an amazing story of one's Christian love for the unlovable! To respect, care for, help, comfort, and ensure that another person's needs are met in this capacity, before thinking about ourselves, is very hard. It is difficult enough to make an effort to be caring toward other people at all times, especially in the midst of life's busyness. To honor another person above ourselves seems to be an impossible goal. However, when we love others with God's unconditional love for us (Romans 5:8), that goal can be reached.
Oswald Chambers, commenting on God's love for everyone, said, "I should look within and remember how wonderfully He has dealt with me. The knowledge that God has loved me beyond all limits will compel me to go into the world to love others in the same way."
Indeed, only God's love, only our reflection upon what He has done for us eternally on the cross and temporality on this earth to meet our needs and desires, is the power by which we can truly serve others.
Faith Lesson: With God's love in our hearts, we can love the unlovable.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV) "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Os Hillman, author of yearlong devotion series for those who are in the workplace, tells the story of one his closest friends who experienced great suffering for the soul of his persecutor. He recalls:
This man worked on a cargo ship. His boss was the captain. This friend was a committed Christian who shared his faith with others and was a good worker. One day the friend led the sea captain's girlfriend to Christ. The sea captain already hated and ridiculed the Christian worker because of his faith in Christ. When his girlfriend came to Christ, she stopped sleeping with the captain. The captain blamed the Christian man for the change in his girlfriend. One day he entered the restaurant where the Christian man was having lunch. He walked over to his table and began hurling obscenities and began beating him. The Christian man simply tried to defend himself but did not fight back. The captain kept beating him until eventually the man lay on the floor bleeding.
Two men entered the restaurant and saw what was taking place. They jumped the sea captain and took him outside and began beating him. The sea captain was beaten so badly that he needed immediate medical attention. The Christian worker saw the condition of the sea captain, came to his aid, and began helping him. The sea captain was so moved that this man could do this after he had literally beaten him bloody that he began to weep, not understanding what could move a man to have such love in the face of being beaten. The sea captain accepted Jesus at that moment.
What an amazing story of one's Christian love for the unlovable! To respect, care for, help, comfort, and ensure that another person's needs are met in this capacity, before thinking about ourselves, is very hard. It is difficult enough to make an effort to be caring toward other people at all times, especially in the midst of life's busyness. To honor another person above ourselves seems to be an impossible goal. However, when we love others with God's unconditional love for us (Romans 5:8), that goal can be reached.
Oswald Chambers, commenting on God's love for everyone, said, "I should look within and remember how wonderfully He has dealt with me. The knowledge that God has loved me beyond all limits will compel me to go into the world to love others in the same way."
Indeed, only God's love, only our reflection upon what He has done for us eternally on the cross and temporality on this earth to meet our needs and desires, is the power by which we can truly serve others.
Faith Lesson: With God's love in our hearts, we can love the unlovable.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
