In high school, I suffered at the hands of a few people who persecuted me although I had never done anything wrong to them. In study hall one day, one of these thugs came up behind me and punched me in the back very hard.

I hated him for years after that incident. I remember my wanting to take a baseball bat and smash his head in because of how he had unjustly injured me.

After I was saved, God changed me so that instead of wanting revenge, I prayed for his salvation. Through His Spirit’s work in my life, He made me one who prayed for my persecutors the way Jesus taught: “Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matt. 5:44).

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). Praise God for His marvelous grace!

Has God made you a new creature in Christ? If He has, there will be real changes in your life.

Have you experienced such changes? If not, I urge you to turn to Christ while there is yet time.

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

King David fled from Jerusalem when his son, Absalom, conspired against him to overthrow his rule (2 Sam. 15:13-30). Learning that Ahitophel, David’s counselor (15:12), was among the conspirators, David prayed, “O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness” (15:31).

After this, Hushai, a key friend of David (15:37), came to him (15:32). David instructed him that if he were to remain with him, he would burden him (15:33). If, however, he would return to serve Absalom, he would serve for David to “defeat the counsel of Ahithophel” (15:34).

Hushai returned to Jerusalem (15:37) and served under Absalom (16:16-19). At this time, Ahitophel was continually giving Absalom exceedingly wise counsel (16:23).

At a key moment, however, Absalom consulted both Ahitophel and Hushai (17:1-14). Although Ahitophel again gave Absalom wise counsel (17:1-4), Hushai persuaded Absalom and all the men of Israel to reject that counsel (17:5-14). David’s prayer was thus answered through the actions of the agent whom he sent.

The juxtaposition of David’s prayer for the defeating of Ahithophel’s counsel (15:31) and his acting to dispatch Hushai to be his agent to bring about that defeat (15:32-37) appears to illustrate how God sometimes answers our prayers. Although we are not explicitly told that such was the case, it is entirely possible that God directed David’s mind so that he employed Hushai as his agent (cf. Prov. 21:1).

David both prayed and took appropriate action concerning the matter of his prayer. His action ultimately resulted in his prayer being answered. Has not God given us this account in part to promote at least our considering doing likewise with appropriate actions in appropriate circumstances?

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.