"…I am with you to deliver you," says the Lord. —Jeremiah 1:8
“God promised Jeremiah that He would deliver him personally— “…your life shall be as a prize to you…” (Jeremiah 39:18). That is all God promises His children. Wherever God sends us, He will guard our lives. Our personal property and possessions are to be a matter of indifference to us, and our hold on these things should be very loose. If this is not the case, we will have panic, heartache, and distress. Having the proper outlook is evidence of the deeply rooted belief in the overshadowing of God’s personal deliverance. The Sermon on the Mount indicates that when we are on a mission for Jesus Christ, there is no time to stand up for ourselves. 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. In essence, Jesus says, “Continue steadily on with what I have told you to do, and I will guard your life. If you try to guard it yourself, you remove yourself from My deliverance.” We put our common sense on the throne and then attach God’s name to it. We do lean to our own understanding, instead of trusting God with all our hearts (see Proverbs 3:5-6).” - My Utmost For His Highest
I just had a long conversation with someone the other day about this very thing. Unjust treatment from someone very close to their heart. There is nothing that hurts so deeply as betrayal by someone you love and trust. So what do you do with that? Certainly, there is sorrow … but we should not be surprised. Do not look to the world ... even to those closest to you for affirmation .. look to the hills (Psalm 121:1). When it happens to us, our first response is to try and think of a way to fix it ... to find restoration … the problem is that it is not your problem. It is the one who betrayed your trust that must repent ... you can’t coax them into it ... talk them into it … pummel them with scriptural reasons why they should not be that way. Only conviction by the Holy Spirit and their submission to that conviction will result in the restoration that you seek. So what can you do? Well …. It’s simple really … show them Jesus.
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear 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.” - Romans 12:17-21
This is not a natural response but a supernatural one. The natural response is to return evil for evil. People who care about you may give you a number of reasons why you should not return good for the evil they have done. When anyone gives us advice in times like this, we must always look to the Word to see what God has to say about it. And don’t expect your flesh – your old nature – to like it. Times like this are a test ... that’s right – a test of your new nature. Responding by faith with obedience to the Word of God requires that we see “the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1) And in doing so you bring glory to God and lift up Jesus to all those around you. Now what could be better than that? Nothing – that’s what!
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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