Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

I'm Mike Whitmer, and I titled today's devotion, Heeping Coles on Enemies.

Dan endured daily beatings from the same prison guard.

He felt compelled by Jesus to love this man.

So one morning, before the beating was about to begin, Dan said,

Sir, if I'm going to see you every day for the rest of my life, let's become friends.

The guard said, no, sir, We can never be friends. Dan insisted

and reached out his hand. The guard froze.

He began to shake, then grabbed Dan's hand and wouldn't let go. Tears streamed down

his face. He said, Dan, my name is Rosak. I would love to be your friend.

The guard didn't beat Dan that day or ever again. Proverbs 25 versus 21 through 22 tell us,

if your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat.

If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

The coal's imagery may reflect an Egyptian ritual, in which a guilty person showed his repentance by carrying a bowl of hot coals on his head.

Similarly, our kindness may cause our enemies to become red in the face from embarrassment,

which may lead them to repentance.

Who is your enemy?

Who do you dislike?

Dan discovered that the kindness of Christ was strong enough to change any heart,

his enemies, and his own.

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