Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Daily Devotional September 6 - Do you mean, don't get even?

"Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide all things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Romans 12:17-19

Recompense to no man evil for evil doesn't mean to not defend yourself in time of need. It means that you do not plot out how to get back at somebody for what they have done to you. I can tell you from experience that there are people who will do awful and ungodly things to you and they will even enjoy it and they might be your fellow church going friends or even parishioners, but God has a handle on it. Learn to let go and let God. God will work out all the ugly details over time. You, nor anyone else gets by with hurting others. It may seem like it for a while, but in due time, God has a way of bringing justice.

Justice could mean that the person or persons who have done you wrong will be blessed by God. God may not penalize your enemies in the way you think. But in and through it all, you have got to keep your head and trust God. As hard as it is to believe, God loves those who hurt you as much as He loves you. And if they will repent and get right with God, God will forgive them and set them on the straight path. You have to be OK with that or you are bucking against the way of God. The same grace that was afforded you so that you could have a relationship with God of value is the same grace poured out on those who hurt you. You might even try to practice Matthew 5:38-44.

God is for mankind and wills to save all and to change the minds of all who would do wrong to others. To be like Christ we should applaud such thinking and think that way ourselves.

No comments:

Post a Comment