What’s the dark cloud hanging over you?
What’s occluded your morning, and you can’t get your day started?
Have you been wronged, when you were trying to be your best?
Your kind words were rebuffed, your feelings crushed, and your good intentions smashed like a bottle on an unforgiving rock?
Here’s what’s not okay: getting even.
It can’t happen. Not allowed. No matter how badly you were mistreated, you can’t take an “eye for an eye.” That’s God’s place.
You, instead, are required to be better than your emotions, follow a higher road than your impulses, and show the love of Christ in every situation.
Romans 12:17 tells what God expects from you:
“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.”
Here’s the thing: Repay says we have the right. We can strike back, and the world will understand. In playground parlance, they hit first, so we become blameless when we strike out.
Except that God says it’s not okay, even when the rules of engagement say to go for it.
We must stop, count one, two, three, and think about how our response would look to others.
Honorable in Merriam-Webster’s words means deserving of respect.
Webster’s goes on to say honorable is characterized by integrity.
That’s God’s directive to us. Respond in a way that deserves respect, that reveals our integrity and determination to do the kinder thing.
Our walk with Jesus is about caring and compassion, never about getting even. Let’s walk in our Lord’s footsteps, down to the way we treat those who abuse us.
Christ is our guide even in the dark moments we think we can’t endure.
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