“‘Jesus says, in effect,
“Don’t worry about whether or not you are being treated justly.” Looking for
justice is actually a sign that we have been diverted from our devotion to Him.
Never look for justice in this world, but never cease to give it. If we look
for justice, we will only begin to complain and to indulge ourselves in the
discontent of self-pity, as if to say, “Why should I be treated like this?” If
we are devoted to Jesus Christ, we have nothing to do with what we encounter,
whether it is just or unjust.’” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His
Highest)
When you read those words, does it seem right to you? I mean shouldn’t you be shown kindness? Shouldn’t people that treat you poorly be
dealt with – divinely? Wouldn’t that
make you feel better? What did Jesus
have to say about it?
"But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to
those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who
spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other
also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic
either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your
goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do
to them likewise.” – Luke
6:27-31
“If I had not done among them the works which no one else did,
they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My
Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in
their law, 'THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.” – John 15:24-25
Most of us will agree that concept is good, but when you are being
treated poorly how do you feel? What is it that you must control? I sometimes say, tongue in cheek, ‘I don’t
want to lose my witness’. What I am really saying is I don’t want to act on
what I am feeling and wanting to do. You
know what? It’s too late at that
point. I have already missed it (The
mark that is. Missing the mark is a euphemism for sin).
“Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no
murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” – 1 John 3:15
“We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, "I love God," and
hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he
has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that
he who loves God must love his brother also.” – 1 John 4:19-21
You see it is the attitude of your heart .. it’s the thoughts and
attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
You don’t have to act on your sin to sin. Thinking that so long as you didn’t do what
you were thinking has stopped short of sin is not right thinking. Don’t confuse
that with temptation. When you are tempted but don’t sin, it means that you did
not make a decision to follow through on the temptation but rejected it.
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'YOU
SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.' But I say to
you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed
adultery with her in his heart.” – Matthew 5:27-28
Remember David on the roof?
He had already sinned before Bathsheba ever entered his house. Pretty high standard isn’t it. It cannot be achieved through determination
.. will power .. or won’t power … but only by the power of God in us. Are there things in your life that you have
been accommodating? Pretending that they
didn’t matter .. Get your heart right … do not sin … James says that sin begins
in our heart when we are tempted (James 1:12-15).. that is where it must end …
It is only when we are spending time in the Word and with the Lord will we be
able to stand against the temptation, but … that is another devotion for
another day …
Shine bright today
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