May 29

"And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away."—2 Kings 6:23.

HELP me, my Lord, to return good for evil.

It is a fruitful training and discipline for my own soul. Many a grace will be fostered within me by the blessed exercise. The grace of watchfulness, for there are un-generous and revengeful dispositions against which I must be on my guard. The grace of prayerfulness, for I shall need God's succour and God's Spirit if I am to succeed in the hard emprise. The grace of gentleness, for to forbear and to forgive will fill my heart with new tenderness and love.

It is the path, moreover, which my Master has trodden in front of me. He was always overcoming evil with good, among His disciples and among His enemies, in His words and in His deeds, when He lived and when He died. He prayed for those who despitefully used Him. He blessed those who cursed Him. He gave Himself for sinners—for me, unthankful and loveless. Surely, whatever my Lord the King has done, it is good for His servant to do.

And it is the weapon which will best conquer the adversary and transmute him into a friend. Love achieves what vengeance will never succeed in achieving. Unmerited kindness is a thousand times more prevailing than merited judgment. The still small voice penetrates souls which are closed against the stormy wind and the earthquake and the fire. It is only the heart's blood, the fable says, which melts adamant; and is not the fable true?

Vinculum quo Pax retinetur, Bengel writes, est ipse Amor. Love is the chain which binds sweet Peace to me.