Daily life with Jesus by Grahame Howard: No attack

Monday 24 February 2020

No attack - No defence

"Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse." V14
Romans 12:14-21. NKJV

This is such a very difficult area to comply with. When someone is wronging us, we naturally want to take action. When something has been done against our family, we want to repay and get our own back. As much as this may be the way of the world, God has different ideas. He wants us to bless them: 'Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse." V14 and 'Repay no one evil for evil.' V17.

This goes against everything that the world does. The world reacts in many different ways. But the world is a violent place to live in and many of us were brought up in this environment. But a look at how Jesus handled things gives us an insight into what this scripture means. He took all the abuse, the beatings and the cross and all He was heard to say in return for this was, 'Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.' Luke 23:34. He stood before Pilate and when questioned, He said very little.

There is power in acting in such a way. It shows that you are in control. It shows the world that you're different. They may consider it weak but, 'When I am weak then I am strong.' 2 Corinthians 12:10. The weaker we are, the stronger we become.

We do have a get out clause in v18, where it says, 'If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.' This is not permission to put up with someone until you can't take anymore and then punch their lights out. No. What it means is, we put up with it for as long as we can, as stated above but if we find it is all becoming too much, then we give it to God. He says, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.' V19. And He will.

It is amazing what God can do in a situation in which we can't take anymore. We give it to Him and it is taken care of. If we try to sort things on our own, then that's it; we're on our own, and have to take the consequences. Much better to give it to God.

Really, it's all about character building. Many places we go, we'll meet situations where someone, who knows that we are a Christian, will try to humiliate us. But we need to rise above it. They're not worth the effort of losing our peace. Be like Jesus in all you do, bless them. Remember, in our lives, there is no need for attack or for defence. We are made in God's image!

Copyright 2020 Grahame Howard