Thought for the day
Years ago, on the mighty Mississippi River, two tugboat captains who had been friends for years, would always cry "Aye!" and blow their whistles whenever they passed each other.
A new crewman asked his boat's mate, "What do they do that for?"
The mate looked surprised and replied, "You mean that you've never heard of... an aye for an aye and a toot for a toot?"
I suspect that few of us would admit to living by the motto, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" (Matthew 5:38), but let's be honest -- there is something inside of us that enjoys the idea of getting revenge. Some of the more popular movies throughout the past years have been those that opened with someone being mistreated. We spend the rest of the movie anxiously waiting for the hero to get the opportunity to exact his revenge -- and then we cheer!
It's not much different on a personal level. I suspect that whenever somebody does you wrong, the temptation is there to immediately start thinking of what you can do to get them back. But, if you find yourself tempted to take revenge, may I suggest two things:
(1) Resist the temptation to exchange evil for evil. That temptation will always be strong and we need realize that it will be there. But we also need to remember the emptiness and hollowness of revenge and resentment.
(2) Show your enemy kindness. Abraham Lincoln was once accused of being too nice to his enemy. He was told to be firmer; he must destroy his enemies. He replied, "I do destroy them when they become my friends."
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." (Matt. 5:43-44)
Verses
1 Peter 5:7
let all your anxieties fall upon him, for his great interest is in you.
1 Peter 2:24
Christ carried the burden of our sins. He was nailed to the cross, so that we would stop sinning and start living right. By his cuts and bruises you are healed.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Philippians 1:19
For I know that this will turn out for my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
Philippians 4:19
Now my God will fill every need of yours according to his riches in glory in connection with Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Father, help us to be moved by the plight of those who are prepared to suffer and even lay down their lives for the sake of Christ. Presently, most all of them are from other lands, which leads to our forgetfulness. But we do want to remember them in our prayers and remember them as warriors of the faith, who for the joy set before them endured the suffering, shame and agony of their tormentors. As they endured the humiliation they also overcame by the blood of the Lamb. So many were presented the crown of life in heaven that is rewarded to those who received the sentence of death on earth by their persecutors. On Coronation Day when we all gather in heaven we look forward to fellowship with these tried and true saints of our faith who did not give up meeting together, no matter the penalty, as they worshiped You. Keep us faithful when tested by fire, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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