Don’t Repay

As a Christian have you ever let the flesh rise up and take control of your actions?  Has someone been able to push the right buttons, so to speak, and you responded with an unchristian attitude?  If we don’t symbolically put on the whole armor of God holding the shield of faith in place each day we can be overtaken by the flesh and respond in an unholy manner.

Jesus said to His disciples because they were sleeping when they should have been praying in Mark 14:38, “Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” This is a problem so many times, we should be praying but we are busy doing other things so we yield to temptation and walk in the flesh instead of the spirit which is very dangerous.  

Have you ever been so angry that you thought of taking revenge on the person or persons that hurt you?  When you allow the flesh to control your actions you can become very angry to the point of taking things into your own hands.  In Galatians 5:13–15 it says, “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love, serve one another.  For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’  But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.”

Then in verses 16 and 17 it says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”  If you are contemplating revenge on someone don’t do it let the Lord handle that situation.  It says in Romans 12:18-19 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.  Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,’ says the Lord.”

So let the Lord take His revenge on your enemies, the Lord will do it out of love.  Don’t put yourself in bondage because of anger and un-forgiveness. You have the choice to release the person into the Lord’s hands by making the choice to forgive the person or persons and in doing so you will set yourself free.  Sometimes we need a reminder of what it says in the scriptures.  Check out what it says in Matthew 5:38-41, “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.”

With God’s forgiveness and love we can choose to forgive because we have been forgiven, praise God.  Let me share 6 more verses with you that we all need to be reminded of sometimes, they are verses 43-48 in that same chapter, “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?  Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?  Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

I think I have said enough on the subject and I hope it is an encouragement to you.  Now it is up to you and me to make the right choice if we find ourselves in this situation.  God bless and have a great day!!  Don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord!!