WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS IN FORGIVING OUR ENEMIES?

We will gain very much if we can forgive others the evil they plan to do or do to us because unforgiveness is like a heavy weight that draws a man back when Climbing to his height of destiny. For example, what happenem in the Bible in lSam 24: 1-20 is a very good lesson to learn from. In that scripture, the Bible told us that king Saul was looking for David with three thousand (3000) Chosen men of all Israel to kill David. The story went on to say that as Saul was going with the chosen soldiers, he became tired and he needed some rest alone in a cave, without knowing that David and his men were already inside the cave before he (King Saul) went in.

King Saul immediately fell asleep in the cave. When David and his men came and found him asleep, David's men tried to persuade him to use the opportunity that had just been placed in his hand to kill Saul. But instead of David killin Saul there and then without any other person knowing (which would automatically could have made him become king), David decided to forgive Saul and cut off only a part of Saul's skirt. But even at that, the Bible says that David's heart smote him because he had a good conscience working in him.

David told his men that he could not kill the Lord's anointed, even though it was clear to him that Saul was in search of him to kill him. Many people would have taken revenge immediately or say 'back to sender' just as many do pray and act today. David simply showed Saul from a distance the piece of skirt which he cut from Saul's robe. The Bible recorded that when Saul saw that David did not kill him, but decided to forgive him, Saul wept.

And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted his voice, and wept. (l Sam.24:1 6).

I do not see anything else that could have made Saul the king cry, other than forgiveness.

No wonder Paulsaid in Romans 12:20 that when we are kind to give food and drink to our enemies, we are heaping ceals of fire on their heads. So, it is only fOrgiveness that can make. our enemies heads burn with fire and make them cry. The story of David and King Saul in the Bible confirms this. Saul confessed to David that he (David) was better in righteousness than Saul himself:

...Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast
rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. (1 Sam 24: I 7)

Therefore, it shows that forgiveness can also be seen as righteousness as observed by Saul the king. Also in verse 20, Saul Confirmed the enthronement of David as king and the establishment of the kingdom Of Israel in his hands:

And now, behold I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be establzshed 1n thzne hand.(1 Sam 24. 2.0):

From this story, we can now se how David got the kingship throngh forgiveness without fighting any further battle, Which could have been very dangerous to him and his men.

In Job 42:10, the Bible says that God turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends and God gave Job twice as

much as he had before. The Bible made us to understand that Job was earlier mocked by those his friends which he later prayed for:

What knowest thou, that we know not? What understandest thOu, which is Not in us (Job 1 5:9).

Job forgave them of the past and prayed for them It was only at that point of forgiving and praying for them that Job's captivity was turned and his blessings came in double. If Job was some of us that never forgive, he would have refused to pray for them and continue to hold on to what they said when they were mocking him. And if he had done that, his situation would have remained the same forever.

And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his Friends; also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10).

Therefore, forgiving and praying for those who are mocking or persecuting us is a way out of our problems which can also . bring in our blessings. Forgiveness is a key that can lock the doors of our problems and open up the doors of our blessings. You may wish to try it today and see how fast it will work for you. I believe it will work because it has never failed. Something similar happened to me some time ago. One dayI drove my new bus to an earth road and did not park properly. Behind me, a certain man in his car was blowing his car horn to draw my attention to the way I parked. He finally drew level with me in his car, looked at me and said “is your father the owner of the road? You idiot, stupid man” He waited for a while for my reply, but when I looked at him and saw that he was wearing a cap, I said “My friend, I like your fine cap”. The man hearing what I said immediately told me that he was very sorry for what he said to me earlier. So, the only way to defeat people or to make them see their wrong is not by your negatlve response but your positive response to their negathC remarks For the bible say:

A soft answer tumeth away wrath: but grievous words stirup anger (Prov 15:1).

What I am saying here is that you can avoid many troubles and wastages on your way to success through the application of forgiveness. There are many other persons who have gained a lot of good things from forgiving those who have wronged them. You will keep your friends if you forgive them, but you will lose them if you keep talking about What they did wrong. Hatred stirs up trouble, but love forgives all wrongs and brings peace (Prov. 10:12).

Jesus is our good example of forgiveness for we see that with all that was done to Him, He asked God His Father to forgive them, for they did not know what they were doing.

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