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Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
Hanging on to bitterness and keeping alive grudges is consuming work. It leaves little energy for blessing others, praising God, or enjoying life. The only way to get over a bitter heart toward others is to actively love and serve them in ways that bless their lives. If we can’t do this because it’s hard to feel like it is the right thing to do, we do it because we know God and want to please him!
My Prayer…
Father of light, love and mercy, please remove from my heart any cynicism or delight in seeing others around me fall. Instead, help me to be a rescuer rather than a neglector. I want your grace to be seen in my friendships. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Bible References
18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.
Leviticus 19:18
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”
Many times throughout Scripture, God tells us to not seek revenge against others. This goes against our human nature, doesn’t it? Our culture says if someone does you wrong don’t get mad, get even! But as is usually the case, the world and it’s mentality is the opposite of God’s Word and nature.
It is not enough to just not seek revenge but we are to take it even further and bear no grudge against the wrongdoer. That means no “cold-shouldering” them, no talking about them behind their backs…etc.
And then we are told to take it to the ultimate and love our neighbors as ourselves.
Romans 12:17-21 says:
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do 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. 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. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Well, there you have it. It is a sin for us as God’s children to try and seek our own revenge or justice against those who, for lack of a better term, are our enemies. It doesn’t mean that we are going to “feel” like showing love and kindness to these individuals, but we are to do so anyway out of our obedience to and love for God.
Then we come to the last four words of our verse for today. Why should we do as this verse says, because God says, “I AM THE LORD”. God will ask us many times in our lives to go against our feelings and obey Him instead. He loves us, created us, and certainly has the right to expect us to obey Him for He always knows what is the very best for our lives. As an analogy, when you are having problems with an appliance that you own, your best bet of fixing the issue is to refer to the owners manual that came with the appliance because those who wrote it were the ones who built it, they, better than anyone, know how it works! Well God’s Word is our Owner’s manual for life, God “built” us and has purchased us with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, He owns us completely (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). He, and only He, has the answers to problems we face in this life. He is the final Authority for us.
Thank You Father God for Your Word, help me to obey it in all that I say and do. Thank You for loving me and for being a kind and compassionate God who cares for His children. I love You and give You praise this day Abba, Amen!