“God, again and again through the ages
You have sent messengers to this pitiless world:
They have said, ‘Forgive everyone,’
They have said, ‘Love one another-Rid your hearts of evil.’
They are revered and remembered,
yet still in these dark days
we turn them away with hollow greetings,
from outside the doors of our houses.”
-Rabindranath Tagore
Today’s Word:
The woman’s whole body was racked in pain. Every joint throbbed and stung, and now she could no longer sit down without unbearable suffering. After the message, she ran up to the Pastor and cried, “Oh Pastor, Pastor please, will you pray for me. I have horrible arthritis and it has gone into every bone of my body. Please ask Jesus for some relief for me.” Just as the Pastor bowed his head to pray, he heard a still small voice say, “Ask the woman if she has forgiven her husband.” This pastor was a stranger to this town and to this woman, so he was unaware of any problems, but he did what the Lord said.“Sister, have you forgiven your husband?” The woman was quiet and then said, “I cook nice meals for him. I look after his clothes. I am polite in our household…” Then Pastor said, “Yes sister, but have you forgiven him?” She said, “How can I forgive him. He is mean hateful, and a cruel man. He has done many bad things.” Then silence. Then the pastor said, “I do not know all you have suffered but Jesus does. He will help you to forgive right now if you open your heart to Him.” Asking for God’s help, the dear suffering woman received strength and prayed, “Lord, I forgive my husband for all his sins and wrongs which he has done.” Then the pastor prayed for her illness; suddenly, in an instant, all the pain was gone and after years of torment, her body returned to normal.
Trouble in the Home
In the story above, a woman sought for physical healing, but Jesus wanted her to look at her need for spiritual healing first. The key of forgiveness unlocked this woman from unbearable pain and released God to go to work in her husband’s life in a deeper measure too. Tagore’s words bear a lot of truth, “Yet still in these dark days we turn them away with hollow greetings, from outside the doors of our houses.” All around the world, these “dark days” have especially become true for the family. There is just so much trouble in our homes. If you think about it, the family is the most basic structure in every society. Family is the core building block, the place where everything begins. When our families are in unity and relational health, then our whole nation becomes strong. Could that be why Satan spends so much time attacking our homes with his seeds of hate, division and violence?
Scripture:
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” -John 15:9-12
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” -Romans 12:10
Forgiven.
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