[ampaterry]

Man, this thought just keeps rolling. Everywhere I look, I find something else on it.

Can the gospel really dissolve deep-seated prejudices that have been hardened by centuries of hatred and strife? The experience of Yishael Allon of West Valley City, Utah, gives the answer. Yishael is Jewish. Over 20 years ago, he met his cousins's wife Sandy, who was dying of leukemia. Peace filled her heart and a love radiated from her life that gave her a "special glow." "She was the first real Christian I had ever met," writes Yishael. "She was different. I would question her, and all she'd talk about was Jesus." In 1980, Yishael heard the gospel on the radio and received a Bible. As he read Isaiah 53, the Holy Spirit convinced him that the prophet was speaking about Jesus; the same Jesus that Sandy knew. "I believed in the Lord Jesus and became a 'completed Jew.' A year and a half later, the Lord gave me His love for my enemies; the PLO who murdered 37 of my friends."

Is there a group you hate?

Do you have more reason for hate than Yishael? Is there a group you don’t LOVE?

Do you have less reason to love than yishael?

We need to look at our lives very carefully – look at them in light of these scriptures, then think about Yishael.

Matthew 5:43-44 (KJV);
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"

Luke 6:35 (NCV);
“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without hoping to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God, because he is kind even to people who are ungrateful and full of sin.”

Make a special effort today to think kindly of someone who belongs to a group you don’t like! Reach out to one you don’t WANT to reach out to! You will not only please that person, but you will please Jesus Christ, and improve yourself in the process.

May God bless each one of us with his help in doing this -