How to Show God's Love
The judge just sentenced me to five years in prison.
I’m not happy about it, but I deserve more. I used to get drunk every night and do stupid things, like stealing cars. Then I met a nun who convinced me I was one of those people who has a real problem with booze. I promised her I would never drink alcohol again. That was eighteen years ago.
My life turned around, and everything was going great. Then I fell off the wagon (jumped off) and the first night of drinking I landed here in jail. Dumb.
While I was waiting for my court date, I lived in a jail dorm with about thirty other men. One night about a month ago, I wrote a Mother’s Day card for my mother, and it was stolen. I figured out who stole it and I beat him up.
So for the next two weeks I’m living in the dorm and looking at this guy with his eye all busted up by me. I start to think about how I’m about to go in front of the judge to ask him to forgive me for committing a crime. But here’s this other guy in jail I beat up. I’m thinking, how can I ask the judge for forgiveness if I can’t forgive this guy?
I’m going to die someday, and I’m going to have to appear before God, and I’m going to have to ask Him for forgiveness, too, for all my sins. So I forgave this guy for stealing my Mother’s Day card, and I went to him and asked him to forgive me for beating him up. He didn’t have to, but you know what? He forgave me. That made me feel good. He showed me the love of God.
-V.S.
“So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23)
The above story is from the book “Jesus In Jail” by Frederick Hermann, available on Amazon by clicking here. This excerpt is gratefully used with permission.
Frederick Hermann is the author of several books including “I Am With You Always”, “How to Forgive Anyone for Anything”, “The Joyful Life”, and “The Spirit Set Me Free”. These practical and inspiring books will guide you to find true healing, lasting peace, and delightful consolation as you discover the life-changing power of God in your daily life, in all circumstances, both joyful and sorrowful, right now. Even in the midst of sorrow, grief, or loneliness, the peace of Christ can be yours today. He is a popular speaker for audiences of all ages using a dynamic question and answer style to encourage lively discussion, soul searching, and audience participation. To invite him to speak at your next retreat, church group, youth group or special event, contact him at [email protected]
