The old Christian was doing what he loved to do—giving out gospel tracts on the foreign ships that came into the seaport near where he lived. Sometimes he invited men he met on these ships to his home for dinner.
There was one very rich Asian gentleman who came frequently to the port. The Christian got to know him quite well and often invited him to his home for meals. But in spite of the old Christian’s kindness and prayers, the Asian man continued to worship the god of his eastern religion and to mock Christ. That was very sad since Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Even though the Asian man was very rich and very religious, he was still a poor, lost sinner in need of the love and forgiveness of God.
Then one day the Asian man came with a very different attitude. He said, “I want to tell you that I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, and now He is my Saviour!”
“How can this be?” asked the amazed but happy Christian.
“How can it be that a man loves his enemy?” asked the Asian man. “Each time I came to your house I watched you, and each time your life said, ‘I love you,’ even though by my religion I was your enemy. My heart told me it must be your God who made you different, and finally I called upon the Lord Jesus to save me. He did not turn me away. Now I too am a Christian, and I pray for my enemies and love those that hate me.”
“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
ML-05/26/2013