Colossians 3:13 (New International Version)
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of
you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
In 1969, Cindy Stevens was brutally murdered in
Evansville, Indiana. Her father moved the family from Evansville to a new home
near Dawson Springs, Kentucky. Because of a court error, Cindy's killer was
released after seven years behind bars. Paul's hatred twisted his psyche.
" At that time I wanted to see that man dead," he said.
In 1978, nine years after the murder, Paul tried
something radical. At a religious retreat, he finally grasped that his hate
couldn't restore his daughter. He started looking at how Jesus responded to
hatred by calling us to turn the other cheek. He vowed to overcome the tragedy
and devote his time to working with violent criminals.
Since that time, Stevens spent two days each week working
as a counselor and lay minister at a maximum security prison. He came to call
some of the 29 prisoners on death row his friends. Rita Brothers, a friend of
Paul's, wrote: "An inspiration and a role model for me, I highly respected
Paul Stevens because I actually witnessed him living out the Gospel call to
work charity, justice and peace." Paul Stevens died in 2002, a man who had
lost his hatred and was able to forgive others.
The Lord calls upon us to forgive others just as we have
been forgiven by Him.
Dear Lord thank You for the freedom from our sins. Thank You
for forgiving us. We pray that we would forgive others the same way. In Jesus’
name, Amen.
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