8/15/14 (Fri) INSTEAD OF REVENGE Matthew 5:43-47 Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... . Matthew 5:44 Jesus command here is an extremely difficult one. It goes against our natural grain. In the heat of conflict, when feelings of resentment are running hot, we want to hit and spit at our enemies, not kneel and beg God to show them mercy . Sometimes we secretly want to see them rot in hell. But if we allow ourselves to become vindictive, were letting a flood of hatred into our hearts. Floods cause immense damage. By being vindictive, were actually letting people hurt us all over again (even though vindictiveness feels so delicious), and were infecting our insides with the poison of bitterness. As one person so wisely put it, When you carry a grudge, its you who are doing the heavy lifting. Grudges fester in our hearts and become scores that clamor to be settled. Retaliation only spawns more retaliation. As Mohandus Gandhi said so well, If we all live by an eye for an eye, pretty soon the whole world will be blind. It is not enough to drain ourselves of the demon of vindictiveness. It will soon seep right back in, like water in a deep hole below the water line. The only safe dike against the flood of contempt for our enemies is, in imitation of Jesus , praying for Gods mercy and goodness to fill us—as well as them. Prayer Dear Jesus, may I imitate you and pray for those who are persecuting me, asking your forgiveness. Help me today to deal with their evil conduct in a loving way. In your name, Amen. chinesetodays.org/?d=8/15/2014
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 22:35:14 +0000