Give yourself something: get wisdom over at Proverbial Thought.
As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then
“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
and to the hills, “Cover us!”’
For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
Luke 23:26-34
You may know where I am going with this, but I am going to continue, anyway.
Jesus had to endure some pretty bad stuff. He went through some of the most torturous agony a person can.
And he forgave His murderers and haters.
Keep in mind, it is our own sin that put Jesus on the cross. Jesus was forgiving you and me with that sentence, as well!
Jesus said other words to us about this subject, as well:
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:14-15
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
Mark 11:25
And I’ve Never Been to Boston in the Fall
For over a week now, as of this posting, people have been dealing with the bombing at the Boston Marathon. On Thursday, those responsible were found, and they caused more damage and took the life of a police officer. It left one of them, the older brother, dead, and the younger is now in custody.
I have heard many people, understandably angry, calling for the death of this young man. Some have said torture is justified. Still others have prayed for these brothers to be joined back together in Hell.
What have you said about these men? What thoughts and words have you allowed through your mind and out your mouth concerning these men?
Regardless of the various parts of belief systems within major (and minor) world religions, specifically Islam, their family and friends say these two brothers were twisted in the beliefs by a radical form of Islam.
The point?
These young men were convinced that God’s love for them would grow if they killed infidels. They were led to believe they were doing God’s will.
Do you know what this means?
They did not fully understand what they were doing!
Regardless of what arguments you want to make about their understanding of what they were doing:
Have you ever been so angry with someone (say, these to men, your parents, siblings, friends, that jerk on the road) that you wished ill-will upon them?
Have you ever lusted after another person?
Have you ever desired something so much that you would do anything to get it?
Have you ever loved someone or something more than God?
The short answer is “Yes!”
As I stated above, it was our sin which put Jesus on that cross.
A “yes” to any of those questions above shows your sin (and, yes, we have all sinned: Romans 3).
This means we are all guilty of murdering God.
If He can forgive us for killing Him, our Creator and greatest Lover …
Pray for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, that he may come to know the love of Jesus Christ.
Pray for the family of Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, that they may be drawn to Christ and learn to cope with their loss and this atrocity committed by their family members.
Pray for each of the families and friends who were killed or injured during the bombing and chase a few days later.
Forgive and repent of hatred.
Love.
a simple man of God 