True Love Is Practical - IN MIND, TOO

 Cain never forgave his brother Abel for innocently putting him in the shade when it came to wining God's favor;  he doubless felt an indignity had been done to his position as first-born and his pride was hurt.  Esau meditated murder against his brother Jacob for taking steps to have the birthright that had legally purchased conveyed to him by their father Isaacml according to God's decree.  Jacob left home to let his brother's rage cool off.  On returning even after twenty years of absence Jacob was  not sure of Esau's forgiveness, but sent gift after gift ahead if gun to Esau in the hope that these gifts as well as long absence with forgetfulness would soften his brother and win him to his right senses.  It turned out that way, fortunately, but a long time, twenty years, was involved.  How about laying seige to a strong city that long to win or capture it? - GENESIS 25:20-34; 27:1-45; 31:36-41; 32:3 to 33:11.

General Joab nursed a grudge against his Israelite brother, General Abner, for having killed his brother Asahel in time of civil war, and finally killed Abner by a trick.  (2 Samuel 2:18-23; 3:26-39) King David's son Absalom never forgave his half brother  for violating his sister Tamar, but after two years of biding his time he schemed  out an opportunity and had Amnon killed.  (2 Samuel 13:1-29) So brothers in the New World society must guard against   harboring resentment, sulking, getting moodly, going over real or fancified injuries again and againin the mind and just growing colder and more bitter against a brother considered as an offender.  The brother charged  with the offense or guilty of it may follow the course Jesus outlined at MATTHEW 18:15-17.  Still the brother stays stubborn and refuses to allow for reconcilliation; he does not want to let the offender off too easy, even if he is his spiritiual brotehr. He prefers to make  the contentions unbreakable like the gate-bar of a castle.  His thus misses the opportunity to imitate God: "But become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate, freely forgiving one another just as God also by Christ freely forgave you.  Therefore,  become imitators  of God, as beloved children."(Ephesians 4:32; 5:1, NW) The one  he injures is mainly himself.  

Next time: True Love Is Practical - IN MIND, TOO - Conclusion

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