DaySpring Daily Word of Inspiration: 1 Thessalonians 5:15 – Make sure nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
It’s a hard thing to deal with when you’ve been wronged. Most of us would agree that it can be hard to get over also. It takes a special kind of person to not naturally feel some sense of revenge – even in its smallest form. We are hurt; we cut people off. We get blatantly undercut; we look for the opportunity to get the next person before they get us. We are offended; we go to the offensive. We look at these items as a means to justify our reaction to a particular situation, but what about us? How many people have we wronged, lied to, or sabotaged in the interest of our own selfishness? We have a superiority complex. We think that we should be held to a higher esteem by others but without having to consider others. This very attitude makes for the commonly misplaced thinking which would suggest “how dare someone do that to me?” or “I can’t believe someone did that to me!” When we place ourselves on a pedestal, we are in an underlining sense saying that we are able or allowed to divvy out sentences or revenge for others offenses against us. Careful – all of us, let us not forget who is really in charge and is the true and only judge of all!
We can’t afford to put ourselves in that position, as God, to think we can repay someone for what they have done to us. The simplest idea of this core that we need to remember is that we have also wronged others. It is unfortunate but it is a reality. We’ve hurt others, intentionally and unintentionally, but wrong is wrong. Do we want the same treatment against us from every side? I’m sure we’ve wrong more than one person in our lives. To avoid the matter altogether, we are given this small nugget to chew on. Rather than trying to be the judge, jury and executioner; take the high road. This is essential within the confines of the church and outside.
The implications of our attitudes toward being wronged by someone show more than we could ever do on our own. Within the church family, it shows the grace, mercy, goodness, and absolute love of Christ when we aggressively put our hearts behind doing well to others in our church. Versus causing further division and tension in God’s house, you are the peacemaker. There is no malice or evil intent in you so prayerfully, a person is won over by love (whether they made a mistake, mistook something, or misinterpreted something) and clearing the air. Outside of church, it could save your family, career, friends, or even your own life. When you have a heart and the nature for God in you; even though people may come against you, there will be no fault in you. By continually being an example of Christ to them, people will begin to look at the other person weirdly – not you! Most important of all, you make God proud. It is our responsibility in all circumstances to make the most of every opportunity to show someone the love of Christ. Especially in situations where you’ve been wronged; this is a premium time to retaliate as the world would or show someone that the God in your life, is bigger than the issue.
Today as we mull over all the things and ways we’ve wronged someone in our lives, let us consider that before we grab our swords ready to strike. We’ve all done it but what are we doing now to make things better? When someone sins against us, don’t follow them into sin by trying to retaliate, ensuring the vicious cycle to continue. Let us be like Christ, who even after all we had done to him, still strived for the overall good of mankind by going to the cross. Just think what if Jesus would have retaliated against us. We can be better! Allow the attributes of Christ love to shine through even when you’ve been wronged, it might just save someone’s soul. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!