Finding Lifeናሙና

Finding Life: Forgiveness

When Ramzi left Islam, the persecution he faced in his Middle Eastern country started out small. Muslims would call him names, including “infidel,” and he received frequent threats.

Then, as the former sheikh began boldly sharing the gospel and leading Muslims to Christ, he was occasionally attacked and beaten, which he expected as a follower of Jesus. What he didn’t expect was seeing his 15-year-old son, Samee, lying unconscious in an intensive care unit after being violently attacked simply because his father refused to deny Christ.

As young Samee had walked through his village on a Saturday morning, a man on a motorbike struck him from behind, leaving him for dead on the side of the road. Neighbors rushed Samee to the hospital, where he remained unconscious for three days.

Ramzi knew the attack was in response to his refusal to renounce his faith when confronted by 60 village elders and sheikhs, and others encouraged him to report the incident to authorities and sue the attacker in court. But instead, Ramzi made a phone call.

“The day the guy ran my son over with the motorcycle and put him in the hospital, I called him up — I knew the guy — and said, ‘I am forgiving you,’” Ramzi said. “The guy was very surprised; he remained silent and didn’t say anything. I am confident that if someday I get to see this guy again, that he will come to faith in Christ.” 

Reflect for a moment on Ramzi’s ability to demonstrate mercy to the one who harmed his son, Samee. Ask the Lord to reveal how you can be a conduit of God’s mercy to others.