Relationships Matter Friends and Enemies Relationships Matter Friends

“ WHOEVER HAS BEEN FORGIVEN LITTLE LOVES LITTLE. ”

“HER MANY SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN—AS HER GREAT LOVE HAS SHOWN”

2. We need to practice radical forgiveness.

2. We need to practice radical forgiveness. • 25 And when you stand praying,

• “The eight months before the trial dates were months of bitterness and

• We gradually. . . came to believe that we had forgiven the

• I had only tried to suppress their memory to some dark corner

• To forgive someone is not to say that what that person did

• So in your case, although justice must be served and your fate

• Both Mitchell Skinner and Patric Patterson continue to communicate with Jeanie and

3. We need to participate in the hard work of reconciliation.

Forgiveness builds the bridge. Reconciliation walks across it.

• 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be

ROMANS 12: 18 -20 • 18 If it is possible, as far as it

ROMANS 12: 18 -20 • 20 On the contrary: • “If your enemy is

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Relationships Matter: Friends and Enemies

1. WE HAVE BEEN RADICALLY FORGIVEN.

“ WHOEVER HAS BEEN FORGIVEN LITTLE LOVES LITTLE. ”

“HER MANY SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN—AS HER GREAT LOVE HAS SHOWN”

2. We need to practice radical forgiveness.

2. We need to practice radical forgiveness. • 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive your sins. ” (Mark 11: 25)

ROY AND JEANIE WILLMON

CARLA WILLMON JONES

• “The eight months before the trial dates were months of bitterness and hatred, filled with a determination to see revenge through a death sentence for each murderer. ”

• We gradually. . . came to believe that we had forgiven the two men who had murdered our daughter. But truthfully, at least speaking for myself,

• I had only tried to suppress their memory to some dark corner of my mind—to pretend that those men just did not exist. I think I called that forgiveness.

• To forgive someone is not to say that what that person did is okay; it simply means. . . abandoning the desire for retaliation and revenge, and granting forgiveness along with concern for that person’s future welfare.

• So in your case, although justice must be served and your fate in this life is set, Jeanie and I have a true concern and desire for you to have a better life beyond the grave. ”

• Both Mitchell Skinner and Patric Patterson continue to communicate with Jeanie and me every two weeks, and each and every letter has words of appreciation for us, and joy, gratitude, and thanksgiving for their new life in Christ.

3. We need to participate in the hard work of reconciliation.

Forgiveness builds the bridge. Reconciliation walks across it.

• 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers, whose names are in the book of life. (Philippians 4: 2 -3)

ROMANS 12: 18 -20 • 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay, ” says the Lord.

ROMANS 12: 18 -20 • 20 On the contrary: • “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. ” • 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Relationships Matter: Friends and Enemies