"Do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?"
Luke 9:54
You've just got to love James and John, the "Sons of Thunder." They are traveling, with Jesus, through a Samaritan village, on their way to Jerusalem. The Samaritans basically refuse to welcome them, because they are traveling to Jerusalem. James and John ask Jesus if they can burn down the village in retaliation. Jesus' response? He scolds James and John. No fire; no revenge; mind your own business and let's move on. Jesus is practicing what he preached. No eye for an eye here. No tooth for a tooth. No torching a village because they don't welcome you. Be nice to people. Jesus did what he told others to do, all the way to forgiving those who put him to death on the cross. We have so much to learn! Today, let's be aware of all the times we may be tempted to retaliate or nurse an anger towards someone. Let's think of James and John, who thought they were completely justified in burning down a village and then let's fill our minds with Jesus' response. Jesus not only told us how to live, but he showed us! Love, heidi
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