Last night I had dinner with some of my family who was in town from North Carolina. I was sitting next to my niece who is 14 years old and is about to start high school this Fall. She was telling me about accepting Jesus in her heart while she was at camp this Summer. She proceeded to tell me about this friend of hers who stole all of her favorite clothes while she was there. Apparently she keeps "forgetting" to return them. As we were all discussing the story I immediately felt sorry for her friend because she felt the need to steal from her friend. I also shared my own story about something I stole from someone many, many years ago that I still regret. I wanted to learn more about this friend. It sounds like her home-life is not the greatest. The responses at the table were interesting. Everyone was mad. I tried to think of ways she could be assertive to get the clothes back, trying to teach her to stand up for herself! The more I thought about it later, the more mad I got. I wasn't upset with Katie's friend, but at satan. He immediately stole the Joy from her. He also stole the Joy from her extended family who was shocked that this happened at a "church" camp. Satan didn't waste any time. We should have been talking about the Joy she received from Jesus, a gift nobody can ever take from her.
I failed my niece by giving her wrong advice to help her get her clothes back. She is at the age where style, self-image and insecurity is huge.
I failed Him by not sharing these Words instead...
Love for Enemies
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:27-36)
If you wouldn't mind, please pray for this little girl who I have never laid eyes on. Oh, and Satan, get the you know what away from me and my loved-ones!
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