Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Devo # 45 "When Someone has Done you Dirty"

Someone has clearly done you wrong. They did it deliberately, and they knew what they were doing. You are offended, mad and you feel like getting them straight! In fact, you want revenge! You are so mad, or hurt that you can't think straight or pray right! In fact when you do pray, the only thing that comes out of your mouth is "Lord get'em!" As a Christian, how do you handle a situation like this. The scripture is clear:

7"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."[e] 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Wow! This teaching goes totally against human nature, yet this is exactly what God has called us to do! God sees the wrong that has been done to us. He is neither blind not deaf. He sees it and he says, let me deal with it. When we begin to take revenge and get even, something dark and ugly begins to happen to our hearts. Bitterness, anger and hurt festers in us like an infected wound and poisons our spiritual bodies.

When we let it go, do what is right and forgive, the anger and poison leaves our soul and we are free to pray for that person and commend him or her to God's hands.

Let's Pray: Lord as difficult as it is sometimes, help me to never hold on to anger and bitterness when I am wronged. Help me to remember to do what is right and leave vengeance to you. In fact Lord, help me to bless those who persecute me and to pray for your mercy upon them. In Jesus Name Amen!