Faith's Checkbook

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April 17

April 17
Enemies at Peace
When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverbs
16:7)
I must see that my ways please the Lord. Even then I shall have enemies; and, perhaps, all the more
certainly because I endeavor to do that which is right. But what a promise this is! The Lord will make
the wrath of man to praise Him and abate it so that it shall not distress me.
He can constrain an enemy to desist from harming me, even though he has a mind to do so. This He
did with Laban, who pursued Jacob but did not dare to touch him. Or He can subdue the wrath of the
enemy and make him friendly, as He did with Esau, who met Jacob in a brotherly manner, though
Jacob had dreaded that he would smite him and his family with the sword. The Lord can also convert
a furious adversary into a brother in Christ and a fellow worker, as He did with Saul of Tarsus. Oh,
that He would do this in every case where a persecuting spirit appears!
Happy is the man whose enemies are made to be to him what the lions were to Daniel in the den,
quiet and companionable! When I meet death, who is called the last enemy, I pray that I may be at
peace. Only let my great care be to please the Lord in all things. Oh, for faith and holiness; for these
are a pleasure unto the Most High!