February 3 - Vengeance

Tomorrow is the last day of week 5...I hope all is well in your life.

1 Peter 2:23

23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

When someone you work with says something about you or you hear a friend insult you behind your back, do you get mad? I think we all would get upset. It's out human nature. Sometimes, we take that anger even further and seek retaliation and vengeance. It's so easy to put up a wall after a co-worker, classmate, or even a family member hurts us. Whether we are talking verbal insults, physical abuse, or any other type of attack, we all become defensive and angry. If we had the power and capabilities, we would probably inflict pain and suffering on our oppressors.

Christ received love and acceptance from many people in his lifetime. He also was on the receiving end of insults, mockery, abuse, and crucifixion. Could he have stopped people from calling him names and spitting on his face? Of course, but that wasn't the plan. Jesus has given us an example to follow. Grace has been shown to us through the love that Christ showed us on the cross. He took the pain because he loves us. 

How can someone who is being murdered, love the murderer? It's simple. Grace. Christ loves us...the murderers. We could be punished and brutalized for what we do to him daily, but that's not what God has planned for his people. His promise was carried out to spare our lives. This is the ultimate example of how to deal with our emotions and anger.

The next time someone annoys you in a movie theater, or spills a drink on your new coat, or says you smell like rotten eggs and vinegar, think about the overall result of what they've done. Is it really worth getting upset over? Even if someone punches you in the back when you are walking down the street or steals your credit card, it's not the end of your life. For Christ, it was the end of his physical life here on earth. There was no rage or anger that was evident in his spirit. Even if we are faced with a life or death situation, remember that God is the judge of all things. For that I am thankful...

In God We Trust...

We've said it for so long in America and in our lives. It is time we lived it out now.