"Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord" - Romans 12:19 (NIV).
After the American civil war (1861-5), had come to the end, President Abraham Lincoln gave memorable remarks. War tends to bring out the worst in human beings. And there was a lot of bitterness by the victorious armies from the North who wished to exact revenge on the defeated rebellious Southern states. But Linclon lifted himself above all that and urged his country men, "With malice towards none; with charity for all!"
Malice is a force that can be used against a former foe for purposes of leveling him. There are cases where one who once felt slighted has finally the power to get even and proceeds without hesitation. One of the most revealing accounts in the Bible was when Joseph as Prime minister of Egypt met his brothers who had once attempted to murder him, later selling him into slavery (Genesis 37:18-36). He had the power then to get even, by perhaps obliterating them.
Instead Joseph used his position to lift his old nemesis up, and usher them into the presence of the King (Genesis 47:1-12). Have you ever wondered who was more victorious! Of course you know, the brothers were now to carry that burden of having once sought to kill their brother out of spite to their grave. But for Joseph he was free from all that.
In all personal relationships there comes such moments of being done harshly. But may we not give in to the flesh and it's urge to revenge, but leave matters in the hands of the Lord and He will redeem us!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, free me of any bitterness that I may live a truly victorious life in Christ, in Jesus's name, I pray.
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27/04/2024 - 28/04/2024 All day“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1).
In the wildlife, a common feature is predatory animals chasing after less ferocious ones, which on a bad day become good dinner. Through the savannah plains of Africa the antelope tends to suffer that fate. After a long chase from a mighty lion, cheetah or leopard; antelopes that survive tend to retreat to a fresh water spot. There they gladly refresh their quench with streams of water.
King David, must have been more familiar with deer, as there are more common in the Northern Hemisphere. For us in the tropics we can substitute the deer with our antelope, commonly chased by predators. After a long chase, of course all pant for pints of water.
The significance of this metaphor is that whenever we encounter any situation that puts us on a chase, where do we run to! Habakuk 3:19 says, “The Lord God give my strength. He helps me run fast like deer. He leads me safely on the mountains” (Habakuk 3:19).
Two things of note here. The Lord can make us run as fast as the fastest antelope being chased by a predator to a well of safety. And of course, as we run, we have that the well of God to end up to and refresh ourselves! This is why David wrote, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today like the antelopes of the wildlife I run to you, to that well of life, which refreshes my soul, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
