Loving by Faith
Corrie ten Boom was one of the few women who survived the torture and humiliation of Ravensbruck…a Nazi prison camp during World War II.
Corrie’s faith in Christ had remained strong, even during times of degradation when she and all the other women were paraded naked in front of heckling male prison guards.
The war was now over, and Corrie had devoted herself to speaking in churches of Christ’s love and forgiveness.
One day, at a church service in Munich, Corrie was startled to see the SS man who was her former prison guard when she and the other women were herded into the showers like cattle.
Corrie recalls the incident in her book, The Hiding Place:
“He came up to me. ‘How grateful I am for your message…to think that, as you say, He has washed all my sins away!’
“His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often…the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side. Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more?
“‘Lord Jesus’, I prayed, ‘forgive me and help me to forgive him.’
“I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so, I breathed a silent prayer. ‘Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness.’
“As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.
“And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on His.
“When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.” (The Hiding Place, Fleming H. Revell Co.)
No matter how hard Corrie tried she didn’t have the power in herself to love this former enemy who had humiliated her.
Yet she knew that Christ had commanded her to love everyone, even her enemies.
By faith Corrie confessed her sin, and turned the matter over to God. Her faith resulted in the power to obey. And, her obedience resulted in the great joy and peace that only comes when we abide in Christ.
Q Are there people in your life you can’t forgive?
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Q In Ephesians 4:32, what does God tell you to do?
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Take some time alone with God to confess your inability to forgive, and ask the Holy Spirit to forgive them through you. As you abide in Him, He will give you the power!
Q Jesus was our greatest example of forgiving others. Who did He forgive in Luke 23:34?
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So…are you ready to get connected with other believers?
It is truly extreme to “fellowship” with others who love Christ…and are living for Him! When each believer is using their gifts, it truly creates the “oneness” Jesus prayed for us (John 17:21).
Remember though…abiding in Christ is the key to love. And love is the key to every relationship!
How to get started:
- Ask God to direct you to other believers.
- Attend a Bible teaching and outreaching church.
- Join a small Bible study and prayer group.
- Use your gifts to reach others for Christ.
- Find a mature believer who will “disciple” you.
- Ask God for someone you can disciple.
“If we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other” (1 John 1:7)
Q Read Hebrews 10:24 and 25.How can you apply these verses to your life?
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