The Jew with a Palestinian heart!
I saw the following story being aired some time back on BBC. This true story stirred my heart and I want to share it with you today. This is especially because I have found forgiveness for me and a great release in forgiving others. Here is the story...
“On one hand I had a Jewish heart, on the other a Palestinian heart. For me it made no difference. They were both hearts.” Said an Israeli doctor on B.B.C. world news. How did this happen?
The situation in the Middle East has been in the news for some time. The Palestinians and the Israelis have been in bitter conflict for a long time now. Thousands upon thousands have been hurt. Scores were killed in Tel-Aviv the other night by a Palestinian terrorist, and there was a sharp cry from the Israelis for a severe retaliation. On the other hand, the Israelis killed many Palestinian civilians, who threw stones and hand made bombs at them.
The Palestinians who feel “Persecuted” deprived of “their land” are in no mood for a ceasefire. The Israelis presumably killed a man from the Arab side. He had a beautiful family. The father of this man donated the heart of his son, to the hospital in the Jewish quarter. This heart was given to an Israeli who needed a heart transplant. The Palestinian father with tears in his eyes said, “For us it does not matter, who it is. We wanted to save a life” The Jewish man in the hospital said with emotion “I am for ever grateful for this family for saving my life, I am alive today because of this family. My prayer is that there will be peace” The commentator said that both sides were touched by this gesture.
Just think about it. If sworn enemies can make a sacrifice like this, what about us Christians who love the Lord? Forgiveness is the Key to reconciliation & salvation. Jesus said, “if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”(Matthew 6:14-15) Many people are under some kind of a bondage just because they do not have the heart to forgive. We must forgive. There is no other option! How can God forgive us, unless we forgive? This character must show it self in our Christian life: “be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another even as God, for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.”(Ephesians 4:32) “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man has a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” (Colossians 3:13)
Confessing our faults to one another, and reconciling with each other bring healing and restitution. It is easier said than done! But we must let the love of Jesus permeate within our hearts. We must pay the consequences for our sins, but we are forgiven if we confess our sins. (1 John:1:9) Our children are sometimes chided for doing wrong. That is the consequence. But, we also forgive them. Forgive others, and live in the freedom that God has given you.
How about showing your heart of forgiveness, just like this Palestinian man who gave his son’s heart to a Jew! I believe that this Arab family has the protection of Rehab in the time of Joshua. Do some thing tangible to demonstrate your forgiveness!
Jesus demonstrated forgiveness by saying "Father forgive them for they know not what they do" What may I ask are the words you will use to forgive those who have hurt you? Demonstrating forgiveness is powerful! Very powerful.
I saw the following story being aired some time back on BBC. This true story stirred my heart and I want to share it with you today. This is especially because I have found forgiveness for me and a great release in forgiving others. Here is the story...
“On one hand I had a Jewish heart, on the other a Palestinian heart. For me it made no difference. They were both hearts.” Said an Israeli doctor on B.B.C. world news. How did this happen?
The situation in the Middle East has been in the news for some time. The Palestinians and the Israelis have been in bitter conflict for a long time now. Thousands upon thousands have been hurt. Scores were killed in Tel-Aviv the other night by a Palestinian terrorist, and there was a sharp cry from the Israelis for a severe retaliation. On the other hand, the Israelis killed many Palestinian civilians, who threw stones and hand made bombs at them.
The Palestinians who feel “Persecuted” deprived of “their land” are in no mood for a ceasefire. The Israelis presumably killed a man from the Arab side. He had a beautiful family. The father of this man donated the heart of his son, to the hospital in the Jewish quarter. This heart was given to an Israeli who needed a heart transplant. The Palestinian father with tears in his eyes said, “For us it does not matter, who it is. We wanted to save a life” The Jewish man in the hospital said with emotion “I am for ever grateful for this family for saving my life, I am alive today because of this family. My prayer is that there will be peace” The commentator said that both sides were touched by this gesture.
Just think about it. If sworn enemies can make a sacrifice like this, what about us Christians who love the Lord? Forgiveness is the Key to reconciliation & salvation. Jesus said, “if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”(Matthew 6:14-15) Many people are under some kind of a bondage just because they do not have the heart to forgive. We must forgive. There is no other option! How can God forgive us, unless we forgive? This character must show it self in our Christian life: “be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another even as God, for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.”(Ephesians 4:32) “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man has a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” (Colossians 3:13)
Confessing our faults to one another, and reconciling with each other bring healing and restitution. It is easier said than done! But we must let the love of Jesus permeate within our hearts. We must pay the consequences for our sins, but we are forgiven if we confess our sins. (1 John:1:9) Our children are sometimes chided for doing wrong. That is the consequence. But, we also forgive them. Forgive others, and live in the freedom that God has given you.
How about showing your heart of forgiveness, just like this Palestinian man who gave his son’s heart to a Jew! I believe that this Arab family has the protection of Rehab in the time of Joshua. Do some thing tangible to demonstrate your forgiveness!
Jesus demonstrated forgiveness by saying "Father forgive them for they know not what they do" What may I ask are the words you will use to forgive those who have hurt you? Demonstrating forgiveness is powerful! Very powerful.
1 comment:
Gostei muito desse post e seu blog é muito interessante, vou passar por aqui sempre =) Depois dá uma passada lá no meu site, que é sobre o CresceNet, espero que goste. O endereço dele é http://www.provedorcrescenet.com . Um abraço.
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