derfully warm sp irit, had com plained, “You’re a thief and a liar! You come around here and tell us that you’re ministering to us. In stead you’ve been taking the money that comes here from the States and spending it on yourself. Look at the car you drive, the house you live in, and the clothes you wear. You’re a thief!” He slapped this missionary across both sides of his face. Then he spit in his face, telling him to get out. How would you respond to some body who treated you this way ? There wasn’t any choice. He had to pick up his family and leave. He re turned to this country where the family rented a house. Day after day this young man sat and turned over in his mind events in the Congo thousands of miles away. The more he thought, the more he became up set. He got himself into a frenzy, and finally became sick with severe abdominal pains. At the hospital he was examined carefully with x-rays, tests, and other activities. No one could find anything wrong. It was all emotional. The time came when this young missionary was able to return to the Congo wth his family. One of the first things that happened was that the native convert who had mistreat ed him, came up to apologize. He ex plained, “You know, in those days we heard so many conflicting stories, we just didn’t know what to believe. Please forgive me.” The missionary laughed it off, but while his lips said he would forgive, in his heart he wouldn’t forget. He kept nursing the grudge. This was about the time I came along. The missionary asked if he couldn’t be transferred to some other station. He felt he would be more effective if he could get away from the presence of this national. I reminded him that being 8,000 miles away hadn’t helped. How could 75 or 100 miles make a difference? I read to him Christ’s words, “I say unto you, love your enemies. Bless 13
can save us from ourselves. We need a power not our own. The Bible re minds us that as many as receive Christ, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God.” You see, the power comes from Him. This is what the Apostle Paul is talking about. This power that comes from God is called "a treasure.” Look at the kind of response you’ll have to life in this power. Verse eight reminds us, “We are troubled on every side, but not distressed. We are perplexed, but not in despair. Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” The Chris tian life doesn’t imply that we’ll be free from trouble and trials. Yet, in the face of such oppressive circum stances we don’t have to be distressed or frustrated. People in despair are driven to the consulting room. It’s easy to feel forsaken. It seems no body understands them and they’re all alone in the world. I listen to many people who express their fu tility with life. Isn’t it strange with cars, homes, food, clothes, plus all the social and cultural advantages there are still mounting cries of despair. It’s obvious that what trans forms people is not technological change. Without Christ, we’re lost and need a Saviour. Only God can bring us peace and contentment amid the chaos and confusion of this life. If you have never done this before, invite Jesus to come into your life. He will by your simple believing faith. P art F ive S OMETIME AGO, when I was visiting in the Congo, a young missionary man came up to me for counsel. Dur ing this time there was quite an up rising in the Congo with a wave of anti-American feeling. It seems that a national who had been led to the Lord, and was making real progress, had become embittered in all the ten sions. The native, formerly of a won
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog