"You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' but hate your
enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!"
Matthew 5:43-44 NLT
I'm sure there are people in this world who don't have enemies...
enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!"
Matthew 5:43-44 NLT
I'm sure there are people in this world who don't have enemies...
Lucky for them. While there are others who have maybe only one or two, I think they're very fortunate. But with me, it's not the case. I've got many enemies who hate me with a passion. Day and night they wish me ill will, and hope that I die. But that's okay. I understand.
Frankly, their hatred is justified. I took innocent lives. I caused grief to many families, bringing them horrific levels of pain, sorrow, and heartache. How I regret this. But my crimes cannot be undone. No amount of tears can wash away my bloody past. I have to live with the consequences, and that's reality.
Yet in the process of time, when I was about ten years into my prison sentence, I had a life changing encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. I repented of my sins and invited Messiah Jesus to come into my heart. It was then when I began to understand the enormity of what my criminal acts had done.
Nevertheless, while I know God has forgiven me because His words in the holy Bible make it plain, society has not been as forgiving. Neither have the families who lost a loved one, nor those who were injured.
Even other individuals, who having no relationship with any of the victims or their families, have to this very day continue to spew forth hatred towards me. Some, out of meanness, are even trying to accuse me of other crimes which I never committed, if only to make trouble for me.
But thanks to Christ, I want to take the higher road. I want to forgive my persecutors, and by the grace of God, I have. They wish me harm, yet I forgive them. I truly do. And I will continue to pray for them. May they make their peace with God like I did. So be it. Amen!
D.B.
Frankly, their hatred is justified. I took innocent lives. I caused grief to many families, bringing them horrific levels of pain, sorrow, and heartache. How I regret this. But my crimes cannot be undone. No amount of tears can wash away my bloody past. I have to live with the consequences, and that's reality.
Yet in the process of time, when I was about ten years into my prison sentence, I had a life changing encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. I repented of my sins and invited Messiah Jesus to come into my heart. It was then when I began to understand the enormity of what my criminal acts had done.
Nevertheless, while I know God has forgiven me because His words in the holy Bible make it plain, society has not been as forgiving. Neither have the families who lost a loved one, nor those who were injured.
Even other individuals, who having no relationship with any of the victims or their families, have to this very day continue to spew forth hatred towards me. Some, out of meanness, are even trying to accuse me of other crimes which I never committed, if only to make trouble for me.
But thanks to Christ, I want to take the higher road. I want to forgive my persecutors, and by the grace of God, I have. They wish me harm, yet I forgive them. I truly do. And I will continue to pray for them. May they make their peace with God like I did. So be it. Amen!
D.B.