My Friend Beth sent this to me yesterday and reminded me of this wonderful Liz Curtis-Higgs poem. It is also available as a children's book.The day of the LORD is near for all nations.Not much has change over the last 2.5 thousand years. If you bring injustice to another, you will eventually have injustice return to you. I found this verse interesting today. I know that it applies to the prophets of old and the ancient countries/nations, but the principle that God is establishing still stands true today. Do unto others as you have God do unto you might be a new way of rephrasing the golden rule.
As you have done, it will be done to you;
your deeds will return upon your own head.
- Obadiah 1:15
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.[f]So, the lesson for me today is: Yes, things have not changed much, there are will always be ignorance, injustice, and hatred this side of heaven. As for me, I have been forgiven "much" and it is my responsibility to act in response to being forgiven much.
"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents[g] was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.[h] He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
People of all ages gathered in a small Baptist church in rural Bangladesh to view a screening of the “Jesus” film. The small building was so crowded that little children had to sit on the floor while rows of adults stood in the back. During the crucifixion scene, weeping and gasps of disbelief could be heard as the dark-skinned audience looked on in horror. As the Bengalis watch, they vicariously sensed the drama of the moment. It was as if they actually could feel the agony of Jesus’ pain and the disappointment of the disciples. In that emotional moment, one young boy near the makeshift screen jumped to his feet and cried our, “Don’t be afraid! He gets up again! I’ve seen the movie before.” [from Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart, Integrity Publishing, 2002]
Have a great weekend and you know I love ya - DonA Minister was walking down the street when he came upon a group of about a dozen boys, all of them between 10 and 12 years of age.
The group had surrounded a dog. Concerned lest the boys were hurting the dog, he went over and asked "What are you doing with that dog?"
One of the boys replied, "This dog is just an old neighborhood stray. We all want him, but only one of us can take him home. So we've decided that whichever one of us can tell the biggest lie will get to keep the dog."
Of course, the reverend was taken aback. "You boys shouldn't be having a contest telling lies!" he exclaimed. He then launched into a ten minute sermon against lying, beginning, "Don't you boys know it's a sin to lie," and ending with, "Why, when I was your age, I never told a lie."
There was dead silence for about a minute. Just as the reverend was beginning to think he'd gotten through to them, the smallest boy gave a deep sigh and said, "All right, give him the dog."
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