Forgiveness - Doing what is right

This devotional is powerful. It deals with something that all of humanity needs most: Forgiveness. It is taken from the Navigators College ministry website here. All credit goes there.

DOING WHAT IS RIGHT 

"For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men." - 2 Corinthians 8:21

On September 13, 1995, Mary Lambright was killed by a semi-tractor trailer driven by Curtis Peterson. She was an Amish woman and the horse-drawn buggy she was driving was struck by Peterson's truck. She left behind her husband Mahlon and eleven children. Following his wife's death, Lambright was offered by Peterson's insurance company a wrongful death settlement totaling $212,418. This was money for Lambright, his wife's funeral expenses and the children. Mahlon Lambright went before Wisconsin's Dunn County Circuit Court and asked the judge to drop the petition of wrongful death settlement against Peterson.


"I admire him," said David Richie, who was appointed Guardian Ad Litem for nine of the family's 11 children. He said Mahlon doesn't want the settlement "for the simple fact that he felt the money would cause more problems than it would solve."


Lambright feared his children would not appreciate Amish traditions when they grew up if he took the money, and he pointed out to the court that members of the Amish community helped them by providing food and clothing and having an auction.


Emanuel Miller, a spokesman for the Amish community said, "It shows that he's not seeking revenge, or he would have accepted the money. Our Bible says revenge is not for us."


Doing what is right brings joy to both God and man. Do you find it painful to do "the right thing"? Today in prayer, thank Christ that He receives the glory when we do what is right in His name.


"I prefer to do right and get no thanks rather than to do wrong and get no punishment." - Marcus Cato

God's Word: "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men." - Romans 14:17-18

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My Comments

For many of us, we will be more shocked about the story of how the hurt can forgive so generously. It is unthinkable. For some of us, we will be appalled and the seemingly lack of justice. I can understand anyone who is angry at the driver. The moment one starts to do mental gymnastics with possibilities and punishments, the road of bitterness that comes with a refusal to forgive turns into a highway to perdition and self-destruction.

For any of us who thinks it is impossible, have we forgotten Jesus' words in Luke 18:2?

Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

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