From: Bayo Afolaranmi
Dearly Beloved,
WHY WOULD YOU CURSE?
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse" (Romans 12:14, NIV).
"Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because
to this you were
called so that you may inherit a blessing" (1 Peter 3:9, NIV).
As I was sending out my usual prayer wishes for the beginning of the
month by SMS early in the morning on the first day of this month, I
received a call from an unknown person who was mad at me for sending
an SMS to her mobile phone. In spite of introducing myself to her and
explanation, she did not hesitate to rain curses on me because she
received a prayer wish from an unknown person. Even my blessings to
counter her curses could not stop her from the cursing. I later sent
another SMS full of blessings to her, though she did not react to the second
SMS.
The incident made me to wonder: why would one curse another person? It
is understandable if one curses someone or something because of
something bad that the person or thing has done, or something good
that the person or thing did not do. However, to curse because of
something good that comes from an unknown source is unimaginable to me.
Many biblical injunctions teach against cursing, rather, they instruct
that we should bless people, even people that do bad things to us
(Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28; Romans 12:14, 19-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1
Peter 3:9). Jesus Christ and other early Christians exemplified this
(see Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60; 1 Corinthians 4:12-13; 1 Peter 2:21-23).
There should not be any reason whatsoever for cursing other people.
Even when people do things that deserve your curse, bless them and
leave room for God to judge (see Romans 12:19). You are called to be a
blessing to others (1 Peter 2:21; 3:9). Why would you curse?
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
Let me use this medium to request again for the mobile phone numbers
of people that want to be receiving prayer wishes/quotes by SMS from
me (if you are not already in the list). Remember to include your
country code if you are not in Nigeria. In addition, if you have given
me your number before and you have not been receiving frequently from
me by SMS, please let me know. God bless you!
"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will
have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted
in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST
AND TO DIE IS GAIN" (Philippians 1:20-21, NIV).
===================================================
From: Suzianty Herawati
"Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me." --Job 10:2
Perhaps, O tried soul, the Lord is doing this to develop thy graces. There
are some of thy graces which would never be discovered if it were not for thy
trials. Dost thou not know
that thy faith never looks so grand in summer weather as it does in winter?
Love is too often like a glow-worm, showing but little light except it be in
the midst of surrounding darkness.
Hope itself is like a star--not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and
only to be discovered in the night of adversity.
Afflictions are often the black foils in which God doth set the jewels of His
children's graces, to make them shine the better.
It was but a little while ago that on thy knees thou wast saying, "Lord, I fear
I have no faith: let me know that I have faith." Was not this really, though
perhaps unconsciously, praying for trials?--for how canst thou know that thou
hast faith until thy faith is exercised? Depend upon it, God often sends us
trials that our graces may be discovered, and that we may be certified of their
existence. Besides, it is not merely discovery, _real growth_ in grace is the
result of sanctified trials. God often takes away our comforts and our
privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains His soldiers, not
in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and using them to forced
marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through
rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many a long mile with heavy knapsacks of
sorrow on their backs. Well, Christian, may not this account for the
troubles through which thou art passing? Is not the Lord bringing out your
graces, and making them grow? Is not this the reason why He is contending with
you?
"Trials make the promise sweet;
Trials give new life to prayer;
Trials bring me to His feet,
Lay me low, and keep me there."
CH Spurgeon
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From: Suzianty Herawati
"Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi." --Genesis 25:11
Hagar had once found deliverance there and Ishmael had drank from the water
so graciously revealed by the God who liveth and seeth the sons of men; but
this was a merely casual visit, such as worldlings pay to the Lord in times of
need, when it serves their turn. They cry to Him in trouble, but forsake Him in
prosperity. Isaac dwelt there, and made the well of the living and all-seeing
God his constant source of supply. The usual tenor of a man's life, the
dwelling of his soul, is the true test of his state. Perhaps the providential
visitation
experienced by Hagar struck Isaac's mind, and led him to revere the place; its
mystical name endeared it to him; his frequent musings by its brim at eventide
made him familiar with the well; his meeting Rebecca there had made his spirit
feel at home near the spot; but best of all, the fact that he there enjoyed
fellowship with the living God, had made him select that
hallowed ground for his dwelling. Let us learn to live in the presence of the
living God; let us pray the Holy Spirit that this day, and every other day, we
may feel, "Thou God seest me."
May the Lord Jehovah be as a well to us, delightful, comforting, unfailing,
springing up unto eternal life. The bottle of the creature cracks and dries up,
but the well of the Creator never fails; happy is he who dwells at the well,
and so has abundant and constant supplies near at hand. The Lord has been a
sure helper to others: His name is Shaddai, God All-sufficient; our hearts have
often had most delightful intercourse with Him; through Him our soul has found
her glorious Husband, the Lord Jesus; and in Him this day we live, and move,
and have our being; let us, then, dwell in closest fellowship with Him.
Glorious Lord, constrain us that we may never leave Thee, but dwell by the well
of the living God.
CH Spurgeon
