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The Ministry of Healing
Often then the mistakes they were so quick to censure are lost sight
of. Experience teaches them sympathy. God permits men to be
placed in positions of responsibility. When they err, He has power
to correct or to remove them. We should be careful not to take into
our hands the work of judging that belongs to God.
The conduct of David toward Saul has a lesson. By command
of God, Saul had been anointed as king over Israel. Because of his
disobedience the Lord declared that the kingdom should be taken
from him; and yet how tender and courteous and forbearing was the
conduct of David toward him! In seeking the life of David, Saul
came into the wilderness and, unattended, entered the very cave
where David with his men of war lay hidden. “And the men of David
said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, ...
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans
12:21. I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest
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do to him as it shall seem good unto thee.... And he said unto his
men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the
Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is
the anointed of the Lord.” The Saviour bids us, “Judge not, that ye
be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:
and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”
Remember that soon your life record will pass in review before God.
Remember, too, that He has said, “Thou art inexcusable, O man,
whosoever thou art that judgest: ... for thou that judgest doest the
same things.”
1 Samuel 24:4-6
;
Matthew 7:1, 2
;
Romans 2:1
.
Forbearance Under Wrong
We cannot afford to let our spirits chafe over any real or supposed
wrong done to ourselves. Self is the enemy we most need to fear.
No form of vice has a more baleful effect upon the character than
has human passion not under the control of the Holy Spirit. No other
victory we can gain will be so precious as the victory gained over
self.
We should not allow our feelings to be easily wounded. We
are to live, not to guard our feelings or our reputation, but to save
souls. As we become interested in the salvation of souls we cease
to mind the little differences that so often arise in our association