Lord’s Day, Vol. 2 No. 18

1) Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting

We are beginning a new series of bible studies on the Book of Daniel, entitled “Faithful Living in a Faithless World” for our Wednesday night prayer meetings. We encourage you to make an appointment with the Lord to come and pray with His people and for His people. We meet at our “Upper Room” called the “Praise Chapel” at 8pm. All are welcome.

(2) Charity Thinketh No Evil” (1 Corinthians 13:5b)

Charity bears no grudges. The word “thinketh” is from the root word “to count”, it is an accounting term, “to keep a mental record”, “to take account”, “to keep in mind.” Charity enables one not to count the evil he has suffered. He is willing to forgive those who have offended him. Charity does not return evil with evil but rather prepares the heart, as the Scripture teaches, “to bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (Matt. 5:44). This is the supernatural love of God in action. It is beyond the comprehension of the carnal man. It enabled Jesus to pray for his persecutors and not to hold it against them, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). The first martyr Stephen uttered these words to the same effect, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” (Acts 7:60).

This phrase “thinketh no evil” has a sense of continuous action. It must become a habit in our lives to forgive those who have offended us. We are to do so ourselves, others cannot forgive on our behalf. You may say that it is impossible! Dear brethren, it is possible by the grace of God. We need to pray and ask Him for strength to help us overcome any hatred and bitterness in our hearts even when we have been unjustly persecuted, when we are the victims. Indeed, this ability comes from a heart that trusts in the justice of God and His sovereign power to make “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”(Rom. 8:28).

Whenever we want to retaliate with evil, we need to acknowledge that it is wrong to do so. We need to repent and have a renewed faith and obedience by the power of God’s grace to trust God to work things out. We are not to take vengeance into our own hands. In the book of Genesis, Joseph was unfairly treated and falsely accused for most part of his youth and adult life. He did not exact vengeance upon his brothers. He forgave the evil that they did to him. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph said, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Joseph trusted God to work things out for his good and indeed God did. He experienced the love of God in healing the many pains that he suffered at the hands of his jealous brothers who sold him to Egypt.

In 1 Samuel 25, David wanted to take matters into his own hands to deal harshly with Nabal who refused to adequately compensate his men for taking care of Nabal’s flock. Abigail, Nabal’s wife, intervened and stopped David from committing folly in seeking vengeance to kill Nabal. David hearkened to the counsel of Abigail to let God be the judge. God smote Nabal and he died. It was in the will of God that Nabal be judged. Although David and his men suffered, they did restrain themselves from taking vengeance. God vindicated them at the end.

Have you been offended in some ways? Are you still harbouring hatred in your heart? Our meditation instructs us to be rid of such evil thoughts. Charity bears no grudges but is forgiving and generous in heart. We would realise that when we are able to forgive, God’s peace and joy reside with us. Amen.

Yours lovingly
Pr Lek Aik Wee