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Pay It Forward Jul 13 2010
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2
What does it mean to "pay it forward?" How can a person with humble, possibly evil beginnings "pay forward" the amazing powers of God? Well, here is an example of how God can use anyone as an example of His powers of transformation.
As a dedicated member of the Ku Klux Klan, Thomas A. Tarrants was involved in over thirty bombings of homes, churches, and synagogues. He was sentenced to a 30-year prison term in Mississippi. While serving his sentence, Bob began to read the Bible, discover the love of God in Jesus Christ, and become convicted of what a sinner he was. He renounced racism and hatred. And then he cried out for the mercy of God in Jesus Christ and received salvation and forgiveness. Paroled a few years later, Thomas attended college and then seminary. Eventually, he became an ordained pastor because he wanted to share what Christ can do in a transformed life. And then, this most unlikely candidate of all became president of the C.S. Lewis Institute in Washington, D.C., where Thomas reminds people of the amazing power of Jesus to transform a life.
Through the testimony of Thomas Tarrants, we get to see the embodiment of God's love in the flesh, in the body of Christ, because someone who was once filled with hate is now filled with love. That is receiving the blessing and that, my friends, is "paying it forward."
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4 Comments
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Yes, report it NevermindI was raised to be a racist, as I grew up I constantly heard the N-word from almost everyone that I was around and even as a young child, that word was a part of my vocabulary. I even knew some people who has left this walk of life that I would not associate with as closely as I did then because of some of the same things they did. I really started searching the scriptures and I found out that I was taught alot of things through ignorance of others and I have renounced those teachings so I can better serve the Lord. Love is a very important part of the life of a Christian, I do not believe a person can really understand love until they meet the one who showed real love while hanging on a cross. It is through his example of dying for humanity, that I came to understand how to love those who I have never seen. I now love those that I once hated because of skin color, nationality and religion. I may not agree with something about a person but I love their inner-person.
Everyone have a blessed day.
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Yes, report it NevermindI was amazed when I learned that the KKK claims to be a Christian organization, but then realized that, like so many others, they take, out of context, a few scriptures which ~~seem~~~ to support their agenda.
It is important to see that this man was transformed only after he began to read God's word....all of it.
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Yes, report it NevermindWOW, RFTH, what a perfect devotional to demonstrate the result of Agape love on the life of one who truly desired God's love to change him. How can you deny the power of such love? Of course our resident skeptics will have an answer for that as well. Thomas Tarrants had "heart knowledge" of God's love instead of "head knowledge". You can try and try but you will never understand the mysteries of God.
Our minds are finite and besides that, He doesn't want our intelligence. He wants our heart.
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Yes, report it NevermindI'm heartened by the conversion. But I'm bothered - as you should be - by a murderous terrorist in the US getting outa' prison (at the urging of an FBI friend!) after less time than many convicted ope peddlers in his hometown serve! We have a problem folks!