This Is Good
An old story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend
with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at
every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or
negative) and remarking, "This is good!"
One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting
expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for
the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong
in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from
his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off.
Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual,
"This is good!" To which the king replied, "No, this is
NOT good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.
About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that
he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured
him and took him to their village. They tied his hands,
stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the
stake.
As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that
the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they
never ate anyone that was less than whole. So untying the
king, they sent him on his way. As he returned home, he
was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and
felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately
to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right," he said,
"it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded
to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very
sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to
do this."
"No," his friend replied, "This is good!"
"What do you mean,'This is good'? How could it be good that
I sent my friend to jail for a year?"
"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you." "And we
know that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."
(Rom. 8:28)
Situations may not always seem pleasant while we are in them,
but the promise of God is clear. If we love Him and live our lives
according to His precepts, even that which seems to be bleak
and hopeless will be turned by God for His glory and our benefit.
Hold on, God is faithful! May God bless you this week as you
seek His will in every situation.
Addendum -- Genius 50:20 (NIV) "You intended to harm me,
but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done,
the saving of many lives."
[ Author Unknown -- from Pat (patr@bayou.com), Bill Champion (Tidbits Devotional) ]
Inspirational Stories
SkyWriting.Net
All Rights Reserved.
|