What do you do? In His Word 8-4-15
What do you do when someone harms you, whether by
physical or emotional pain? Do you lash out and retaliate or do you do as Jesus
says to do, in His Word?
Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often
should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! Matthew
18:21-22
My God tells me to
forgive, though I do not see forget it, just to forgive the infraction. After
all some things people do against us are unforgettable, other things are as
easily forgotten with a shake of the sand off our feet.
When something horrible
happens in your life it stands out as if someone had branded it onto your skin,
the pain is often severe and long lasting. Though we can forgive people in
word, the deed us often something we need to pray and ask God to help us with. Sometimes we cry out why it happened,
sometimes we cry out to God to stop the person from harming anyone else; and
sometimes we just want to forgive and forget the whole thing.
When someone wrongs us
we need to move on in our lives and walk as Jesus would walk but it is not
always easy to do. That is when we must ask ourselves and our God what Jesus
would have us do in this situation. He will tell us; we need but ask.
“This is what the Lord says—the Lord who made the
earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the Lord: Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about
things to come. Jeremiah 33:2-3 NLT
Sometimes the Lord gives us
directions we do not want to hear. If we love the person who has harmed us it
may be hard to get away from them, even if its for a time to ‘cool off’, but
usually that is the best thing to do. Take a break! David was told to run when
Saul, his king and the man who was a second father to him as well as his father
in law, tried to kill him. Yet David
forgave him asked that no harm would come to the king of his men because he saw
King Saul as God’s anointed still. And
so he followed the direction of the Lord God trusting Him for protection, continually
forgiving the king and promising his family would always have a place in his
kingdom.
I trust in the Lord for
protection. So why do you say to me,
“Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety! The wicked are stringing their bows
and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows
at those whose hearts are right. The foundations of law and order have collapsed.
What can the righteous do?“ Psalm 11:1-3
“Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety! The wicked are stringing their bows
and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows
at those whose hearts are right. The foundations of law and order have collapsed.
What can the righteous do?“ Psalm 11:1-3
Still, even David wondered how a righteous man could suffer
so while the unrighteous were running free.
Often times we have to run to God for safety while we wait
the timely demise of those who have harmed us. We forgive them then wait on the
Lord and trust Him to take care of the problem. It is not for us to fix other
peoples problems but for Him to deal with while we work on our own. Our job is to lift them up to God in the
first place that He may take control and work on the soul of the one who harmed
us.
Time and time again we read about David trying to reconcile
with King Saul, but it just did not happen. Even his best friend Jonathon died
before David could have safety. Sometimes even our best friends have to suffer
in order for God to deal with a situation that is out of control.
This makes me think of Joshua’s words, “choose you this day
whom you will serve”. It all comes down to will we fight our own battles in
life or will we allow the Holy Spirit to intervene and assist in the battle? If
Saul had looked to God for direction in the first place the king would not have
lost his throne and died in battle by his own hand. If the man Saul had sought
the Lord for direction many Christ followers would have lived to reach
countless more people. Only God knows the outcome and how many people came to
know Him because of other people’s deaths at the hand of unbelievers.
He said to ask Him and He would show us great and
unsearchable things.
Don’t be afraid to ask!
When you read the Bible this week ask Him to show you things
you have not noticed before as you read. As Him to reveal truth to you that you
may have glossed over and to show you how you can use it in your life to
further His kingdom. Then ask Him to
help you forgive those who have injured your heart. He can show you how to do
so, He can give you direction in your life, just ask.
Dear Heavenly Father, Help us to not be afraid, or ashamed to
ask you to show us things we do not know. Amaze us this week with growth, with
guidance and with forgiveness in our hearts that we never thought we could feel.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Suggested reading: Psalm 11:1-7, Matthew 18:1-35 and Hebrews
9:1-28