Counter-Intuitive Forgiveness
Romans 12:19-21 My friends, don’t try to punish anyone who does wrong to you. Wait for God to punish them with his anger. In the Scriptures the Lord says, “I am the one who punishes; I will pay people back.” But you should do this: “If you have enemies who are hungry, give them something to eat. If you have enemies who are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this you will make them feel ashamed.” Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good.
Not everything that God calls us to do, always makes sense at first. In fact, sometimes, it goes completely against the grain. Question is, will you follow the call, will you do it anyway?
Often times when someone hurts you, well you try to ignore it, to sweep it under the carpet as it were. The problem with that, though, is that the unforgiveness, the hurt, the desire for revenge just ends up festering on in your heart. And that doesn’t do anyone any good.
How often has a hurt from the past raised its ugly head years later, and you still feel the pain as though it were yesterday? You know what I’m talking about.
Here’s how it works. Unless and until we lay down our right for an apology, for recompense … even revenge, until we let go of that “right”, the unforgiveness will keep on poisoning us from the inside.
We imagine that if only I could get some justice, it’ll make the pain go away. But it doesn’t. In fact if you want healing from those hurts of the past, if you want to be able finally to forgive … then it’s exactly the opposite.
Romans 12:19-21 My friends, don’t try to punish anyone who does wrong to you. Wait for God to punish them with his anger. In the Scriptures the Lord says, “I am the one who punishes; I will pay people back.” But you should do this: “If you have enemies who are hungry, give them something to eat. If you have enemies who are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this you will make them feel ashamed.” Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good.
It may go against the grain. It may be counter-intuitive. But it works.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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Berni Dymet
Kate, to love your enemies is to come from a position of power and confidence in Christ. Jesus laid down His life ...
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Kate, to love your enemies is to come from a position of power and confidence in Christ. Jesus laid down His life willingly for you and me – “No one takes my life away from me. I give my own life freely. I have the right to give my life, and I have the right to get it back again. This is what the Father told me.” (John 10:18) That didn’t make Him a people pleaser. But in doing so He did love His enemies in that while we were still sinners He laid down His life for us. (Romans 5:10). Being a people pleaser, on the other hand, is to come from a position of weakness, thinking that if we don’t please people, we won’t be loved or accepted. There’s all the difference in the world between those two. Someone who is not secure in Christ, will find it almost impossible to love their enemy. Berni@CW
Kate Stonier
I’d love your thoughts on the difference between loving your enemies and people pleasing. Thanks
I’d love your thoughts on the difference between loving your enemies and people pleasing. Thanks