This month, our meditation has been excerpted from the book entitled Extreme Devotion, compiled by Voice Of the Martyrs. In the following passage, the account of Demeter (a Romanian Christian) provides us with fodder for reflection and perhaps application:
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13)
Demeter suffered for many years in Communist prisons. He had remained strong in spirit during his confinement, but his body was beginning to wear down. There was a certain prison warden who amused himself by beating on Demeter's spine with a hammer, which permanently paralyzed him. But Demeter's Christlike attitude never wavered, and he was eventually released from prison.
Twenty years later, he heard a knock at the front door of his home. He was shocked to see the same prison warden who had so cruelly beat on his spine and paralyzed him years before, standing before him. Still, Demeter did not waver in his expression of faith.
Even before Demeter could offer a greeting, the former warden said, "I realize I can never be forgiven for what I have done to you. It was too heinous. But please just listen to my words of apology and I will leave."
Demeter paused only for a moment as he gazed with compassion and wonder at the man. He replied softly, "For twenty years I have prayed for you daily. I have waited for you. Twenty years ago, I forgave you already." If we are willing to show love and forgiveness to everyone--even those who have hurt us--then the love of Christ can conquer all.
FURTHER: Most people will never suffer deliberate physical torment. However, the wounds that others inflict upon us emotionally can be just as devastating with us for a lifetime. We are tempted to hold a grudge, or even perhaps to exact revenge against the offender. Forgiveness does not come naturally to us, but it is inseparable from God's nature. If we have tasted God's grace, then we can allow others to share in God's forgiveness. Forgiveness does not depend on the offender's asking for it first. It is an act of obedience, as well as an act of faith. Ask God to open your heart to the miracle of true forgiveness.
A moment of consideration: It is said that forgiveness of those who hurt us is perhaps one of the hardest things for us to do. Yet, we talk glibly about forgiving when we have never been injured; when we are injured, we know that it is not possible, apart from God’s grace, for one human being to forgive another. In fact, everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive. Demeter had 20 years in which his hurt might have festered, but he forgave the warden at the start of the 20 years and began a 20-year vigil of prayer for the warden, which ended in an unexpected (though prayed for) knock on his door.
In the Holy Scriptures, it was God who said, "Vengeance is mine" (Romans 12:19); in this day of lawsuits and incessant demands for "my" legal rights, Paul's command sounds almost impossible. When someone hurts you deeply, instead of giving him what he deserves, Paul says to befriend him. Why does Paul tell us to forgive our enemies?
- Forgiveness may break a cycle of retaliation and lead to mutual reconciliation.
- It may make the enemy feel ashamed and change his or her ways.
- By contrast, repaying evil for evil hurts you just as much as it hurts your enemy. Even if your enemy never repents, forgiving him or her will free you of a heavy load of bitterness.
In Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:28, Christ urged us to pray for those who hurt us. Demeter put this into practice and persisted for twenty years in an attitude of prayer.
In this world, prayer is neither understood nor honestly practiced. Instead of genuine forgiveness, our generation has been taught the vague notion of "tolerance." This is, at best, a low-grade parody of forgiveness. At worst, it's a way of sweeping the real issues in human life under the carpet. Jesus' message [of forgiveness of sins] offers the genuine article and insists that we should accept no man-made substitutes. The disciples didn't understand the usefulness and importance of prayer. (Mark 9:14-29, Verse 29) "And he said to them, 'This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.'"
Hannah, in the Old Testament, understood the value of persistent prayer. Hannah endured years of barrenness but persisted in prayer, pouring out her heart’s desire for a child before the Lord (1 Samuel 1:9-20). Her unwavering faith led to the birth of Samuel, who became a great prophet and leader in Israel. Hannah's example teaches us the power of persistence in prayer and the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises to those who trust in Him. It is good in our lives to spend hours upon our knees, entreating God regarding the burdens we bear. Christ is our burden bearer (Matthew 11:28-30), and constant is His care (Psalm 94:19; when the cares of my heart are many, Your consolations cheer my soul). Steadfast is His heavenly advocacy for us. (1 John 2:1) We are asked to pray for our enemies, and are urged to be constant in our prayers. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Here is a great thought from William Bennett: "Every saint has a past. And every sinner has a future." Why did Demeter pray "without ceasing" for the prison warden through the years? Perhaps he did so because he yearned for the foe to come to know Christ, and His forgiveness. Being steadfast in prayer is a worthy endeavor. It takes commitment, and a vision of the answer that is unknown to us along the way; we too may have come to faith because of a friend or family member who was constant in their prayer for us. Jesus told a parable about a persistent widow who continually sought justice from an unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8). Despite facing repeated rejection, she persisted in her plea until the judge finally granted her request. Jesus used this parable to teach his disciples the importance of perseverance in prayer and the certainty that God will ultimately bring about justice for His chosen ones. The widow's relentless pursuit of justice underscores the power of unwavering faith and persistence. Though the judge had no regard for righteousness, he granted her request simply because of her determination.
Jesus contrasted this with God's perfect justice, reassuring His followers that if even an unjust judge could be moved by persistence, how much more would their heavenly Father respond to the prayers of His people? This parable encourages believers to pray continually, trusting that God hears and answers in His perfect time.
Perhaps we might also consider the role of persistence in John Wesley's life. A page from John Wesley's Diary reads as follows:
- Sunday morning, May 5, preached in St. Ann's, was asked not to come back anymore.
- Sunday p.m., May 5, preached at St. John's, deacons said, "Get out and stay out."
- Sunday a.m., May 12, preached at St. Jude's, can't go back there either.
- Sunday p.m., May 12, preached at St. George's, kicked out again.
- Sunday a.m., May 19, preached at St. somebody else's, deacons called special meeting and said I couldn't return.
- Sunday p.m., May 19, preached on the street, kicked off the street.
- Sunday a.m., May 26, preached in meadow, chased out of meadow as a bull was turned loose during the services.
- Sunday a.m., June 2, preached out at the edge of town, kicked off the highway.
- Sunday p.m., June 2, afternoon service, preached in a pasture, 10,000 people came to hear me.
Oh, that we would have such persistence in the Lord, through prayer. Each moment of each of 20 years, Demeter had not received commendation or answer; yet he prayed on until, for the warden, his resistance was abraded and God overcame his last impediment to come visit the Christian. God's timing is impeccable, and beyond our understanding. Our requirement is to forgive our enemies, persist in prayer, and look for the day when an answer comes--in this life or the next. Let us praise and honor the Lord, who loves to answer prayers and who begins to answer even before we pray. (Isaiah 65:24)