“Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.” – 1 John 3:12-14

On Sunday, January 8, 1956, five young missionaries flew into the Amazon jungle. Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming, and Roger Youderian landed at a remote clearing to bring the gospel to the Auca Indians. The next day their bodies were found floating in the Curaray River, ambushed by the very people they had come to share Christ’s love. Back in Oak Park, Illinois, Dr. T.E. McCully was shaken by his son’s death. But he was also rooted in Christ’s love. A few days after their deaths, T E McCully prayed, “Lord, let me live long enough to see those fellows saved who killed our boy, that I may throw my arms around them and tell them I love them because they love my Christ.” When he rose, tears ran down his cheeks. In less than three years, Nate Saint’s sister, Rachel, and Jim Elliot’s widow, Elisabeth, began their ministry with the Aucas and many Aucas came to the Lord. Nine years after the murder of the five missionaries, two of those who had killed Nate Saint and his companions baptized two of Nate’s children, Kathy and Stephen Saint. In June 1995, Stephen Saint was called by the Aucas to assist in developing their church leadership.

How do you react when you are hated? Today in prayer, look to the Lord and His love. Give the hurt and hate to Him and receive His love that you may share with those who don’t yet know Christ.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive hate, only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

God’s Word: “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,” – Luke 6:27

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2002, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTIONS IN THE LETTERS OF JOHN pkennedy@devotional.com