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 a recent bruising political case that nearly made him lose his job but left him very tattered one politician was quick to share to all sundry that he was not in the mood to forgive those who had passed him through the rooster. He was cheered by some Christians who felt he was just being honest and much being a man of himself. But then should this be the way for Christ followers!
No doubt for most of us that when one has been hurt the natural instinct is to hit back. Every now and then we come across that person or incident that leaves us feeling violated. If it is in our power to hurl back with invectives or even arrest and suppress those who dared hurt us, then why not! In fact, we would love hearing the tortured pain of our former offenders. Perhaps they can start respecting us, finally!
Wait a minute! When we come to Christ and become Born again one of the amazing work of the Holy spirit is to make us do the impossible. Where one could have been quick to take offend and lung back at his enemies Christ works in us by making us forgiving even in the most offending situations. Then non-believers seeing so are quiet amazed at this miracle. And for some, it is this power of transformation which leads them to accept Christ, just as well.
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray in the mighty name of Jesus, that through the power of the Holy Spirit I may be forgiving of others because it does demonstrate your overwhelming love for us!
Related upcoming events
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19/04/2024 - 20/04/2024 All day“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” ( Isaiah 43:19).
Just before fire was unleashed down on Sodom and Gommorah, Lot was told to pack up with his wife and two daughters and leave their homestead. Now, once out of danger, “But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” ( Gen 19:26). Perhaps here we might pause and ask why she was bothered to look back.
Of course it could have been that old “curiosity killed a cat” mistake! Yet, it could also have been Lot’s wife was not sure where she was going and longed for her old life back. This is a common error. There was nothing stirring to look back. Just before Lot’s neighbors had attacked his house eager to rape his visitors. “They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them” ( vv 5). Was there anything worth looking back to!
The case of Lot’s wife could be anyone else’s experience. The Lord has plucked you out of some mess. You have been delivered to a new life. Yet, somehow you decide to look back, as though there was anything good and worth longing for. Sometimes it is a bitter past you have been delivered from. Other than rejoice in your new blessings you keep being drawn back!
A wise caution goes, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly” ( Proverbs 26:11). If the Lord has just led you out of a certain mess why look back like it was much better! Instead look ahead, for “he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past” ( vv 17- 18).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I thank you for delivering me from the darkness of the past and I look forward to a bright new future in you, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
