EVIL FOR EVIL? NOT!!

Here we are one day prior to the celebration of Easter Sunday. I think today of the evil forces in this world that hate Jesus and God and hated him so much back then that they hung him on a cross to die. Even when all this torture was going on what did He do? He wanted us to forgive those soldiers who hammered nails into His hands and feet, put a crown of thorns on Him and treated him so horribly. In Luke 23:34(ESV) it says 'Father forgive them for they know not what they do'.

Evil for evil, no way. God is good, and Satan is evil, the king of evil and lies. He is at work overtime even in the lives of Christians to trick, deceive and lie to them. That is why it is so essential that we saturate ourselves with the truths found only in God's word, The Bible. Do you study it and take time to "know Jesus"?

Do you ever catch yourself saying you do not like someone or even utter the word "hate"? Maybe someone has hurt you, been mean to you, or just treated you poorly. In Matthew 5:43-48(NIV) says 'You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?Are not even the tax collectors doing that?And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.'

Try an experiment. Try actually forgiving people who have wronged you. Even if they are no longer around and you are unable to do it in person. Try just loving for a change. Ask God to transform the hate you may feel into His love for them. Only Satan wants revenge, not God.

Memorize this verse below if you can, found in 1 Peter 3:9(NIV). '

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.' When you start to get mad or let your thoughts dwell on being mad, turn it into love instead. PRAYER: This is the day you have made for us to enjoy and serve you. I know Lord at times I allow the enemy to capture my thoughts and start wrong thinking. I allow hate and anger in when I should instead be allowing your transforming power of love. Help me Lord as I seek to stay on the path of love and forgiveness. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link before and enjoy this Easter melody.

http://youtu.be/Li8Ld8KWTbA 

DO NOT GET THE LAST WORD

In watching "The Bible" mini series these past few weeks and seeing the actor portraying Jesus always being peaceful even when insults were being hurled at him, it led me to believe we too are supposed to emulate Christ if we claim to be a Christian. How many of us could stand idly by while someone mocked or insulted us? Human nature is to strike back and return insults or defend ourselves. Jesus did nothing to deserve his treatment.

1 Peter 3:9(NIV) says '.

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.' Perhaps someone has tried to start a shouting match with you. The big thing is to diffuse this type of behavior by keeping calm and peaceful. It usually drives the person "attacking" you crazy as they are trying to start a fight. Just because someone is hurting you is no reason to treat them the same way. Proverbs 20:22(NIV) says 'Do not say I'll pay you back for this wrong but wait for the Lord and He will avenge you .' 1 Peter 2:23(NIV) says 'When they hurled insults at Him , he did not retaliate and when He suffered He made no threats. Instead He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.'

Think of Easter for just a moment, since it is upon us this coming Sunday. Imagine if you possibly can, experiencing the type of painful torture and mocking that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ endured. Isaiah 53:7 says 'He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its' sharers is silent so he did not open his mouth.' This is only a "God thing" to be able to remain silent in the face of unjust torture and accusations.

Perhaps you are not being hung on a cross like Jesus to suffer a horrible "temporary" death, but your issue is something much smaller. Maybe you were hurt by a spouse with a verbal tongue lashing. This should never occur but if it does stay cool and be Christlike unless you are being threatened physically. Maybe your cruelty is at the hands of a boss. Once again do the right thing and remain calm and Christlike. Did a friend hurt you or betray you? Whatever it is run to Jesus and give up the idea you want to get them back.

Let me leave you with this verse from James 1:20(NIV) which simply says 'For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.' Remember your real enemy is not mere man but Satan.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus during this Easter season we think of you and the awful way your were treated. Lord help me to imitate you in my words and actions if I am ever mistreated by someone. Show me how to love like you with a super natural love. In Jesus name. Amen.

LESS SAID THE BETTER

Have you ever heard the phrase 'the less said the better?' Many times
that is so very true. Also the phrase 'leave well enough alone' or
'don't add fuel to the fire' ? Very wise advice. The last few days we
have been dealing with words that wound or words that build up, or

spoken on impulse. Thinking before speaking is a very important thing

to do.

Words should build up not tear into someone. If you claim to be a
believer then it is critical you learn to gain control of the tongue.
Take a moment and review James chapter 3. In Matthew 12:36-37(NKJV) we
are warned about what happens if we say bad things. It says 'But I
tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give
an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you
will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.'

Do you have a problem with careless words? Don't you feel your speech
should bring glory to the Lord? The mouth can be deadly or it can be
life giving. It is how you choose to use it. Granted none of us are
perfect but if we strive to be holy in all areas of life and live like

Jesus then we need to get a grip on this.

'But what if someone says something ugly to me' you might proclaim.
That still gives you no right to be harsh back. Remember the verse

found in Romans 12:17(NIV) which says 'do not repay evil for evil. Be

careful to do right in the eyes of everybody.' If you are angry try
to make peace. There is a verse found in Ephesians 4:26( NLT) which

says 'And don’t sin by letting anger control you.Don’t let the sun go

down while you are still angry.'

'But wait' you might say. 'The person really hurt me so I feel I have

the right to get back.' So what, in fact ,would Jesus do? I think you
know the answer.

Your mission, and I hope you accept it wholeheartedly, is to seek to
only let kind, pure, edifying words come forth from your mouth. Stay
in the word of God and it makes it a bit easier.

PRAYER: Thank you for loving me Lord and for forgiving me when I say
things I should not. I choose to be holy in all areas of my life but I
need your help to do it. Thanks for putting loving friends and family
in my life. Help me be careful to never hurt them with words. In
Jesus' name. Amen.

TURN THE OTHER CHEEK

Do you ever just feel like getting back at someone for how they treated

you? It could be a spouse, a friend, or someone else. Whatever and

whoever it is not God's plan to retaliate. Romans 12:17(NIV) says 'Do
not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the
eyes of everybody.' As spoken of yesterday we need to maintain peace

at all costs. But what about someone who said something about you that is not true or is spreading rumors? Don't you have the "right" then to get back?

The first human reaction to when someone hurts you is sadness,hurt, or the

need to say something back to them. Maybe you want to get your way or
the last word. That is not the wisest thing to do. The best way to

defuse an angry outburst or hurt feeling is to 'hold your tongue' and

try to get your emotions under control.

James 1:19(NLT) I often think would be an excellent verse for married
couples to say each and every day and to commit to memory. It simply
says 'Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be
quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.' Another
equally excellent scripture is found in Proverbs 15:1(NIV). It reads
as follows 'A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs
up anger.' Think on that one for a moment why don't you? How much
better to say nothing back than to get the "fire of anger" stoked up
and end up in a yelling match. 2 Corinthians 13:11(NASB) tells us
'Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be
like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with
you.' See there is that word again, "peace". Peace is not achieved by
bickering or belittling. It is achieved by "turning the other cheek".
Letting go of your right to get back basically. The turn the other
cheek thing is actually found in God's word in both Matthew 5:39 and
Luke 6:29. Why not take a moment to look them up.

There may have been moments when you just felt you could not contain
yourself over something someone said about you or to you. I recommend
going to Jesus in prayer and asking God to put love within your heart
for this person no matter the outcome. Keep trying to show God's love
in word and deed.

Matthew 5:44(NLT) says 'But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you.' Leave the rest up to God.

PRAYER: Sometimes it seems it is easy to get angry at a person over
something that may be so silly. Help me Lord learn to walk away and
drop it and not cause a fight or a broken relationship. Give me
strength to walk away from potential situations Lord. Put your Spirit
within me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

DON'T BE UGLY BACK

Does anyone ever do something mean, disrespectful, or ugly to you and you say to yourself, "I'll show them!?"  Humanly people can really get to us if we let them. But the godly response to someone being mean or ugly is to turn the other cheek and not repay evil for evil. If more people did this there would be a lot less court battles today and fewer broken homes as well. As a believer we are supposed to be different and not be reacting to things like people in the world. You are to be an example for the kingdom no matter where you are.

You can let the most minor things start to get you mad if you let them.Let's say for instance that your husband or wife takes off an article of clothing and inconsiderately just throws it in the middle of the floor. You would think any grown person taught by a half way decent mom would know the socks and other articles of clothes do not go in the middle of the floor, right? You can treat the person like a child and say "pick that up now" , or  "I'm not the maid" or you can simply let it go, pray, and pick it up without saying anything or rubbing it in their face. Pretty hard to do perhaps with an adult that needs to know better. You have a choice to make. Keep the argument going by making an issue of it or just letting it go. I say choose to give it up and move on and pray. Give it to God. Only He can make the other person change. No amount of scolding or nagging will.

Whatever is going on with someone mistreating you sometimes you have to be the bigger more mature person and choose to give it up. You can keep beating this to death, so to speak ,or move on and go get your Bible and read and pray. Of course Satan would love you to keep stoking the flames of an argumentative spirit that wants to be in control and wants to have your own way and sort of be the 'winner' of the little battle.

 If the person being ugly is a spouse, first of all, shame on them, and if a Christian spouse that is worse. You may want to lash back, but for husbands and wives two verses are vitally important the first being Ephesians 4:26 which tells us "In your anger do not sin and do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." Now you may be staying up a while but it is better than sleeping on the seam of the mattress or leaving the room. Also in James 1:19 it gives a bit of wisdom good in marriages and all relationships as well and it says " My dear brothers and sisters,   take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak   and slow to become angry." This could apply while shopping if you get mad at an inconsiderate employee or even apply this at your own job.

For those of you applying this in a marriage situation and if you are a 'lone ranger' or in other words maybe the only one in the marriage who attempts to stay close to God  and  your spouse is still being ugly, restrain yourself from wanting to fight just pray to yourself instead and do not repay evil. This is in the Bible in both 1 Peter 3:9 and in Romans 12:17 where it tells us to not return evil. That is human nature to keep fighting and to get the last word but that kind of conduct does not please the Lord but Satan loves it.

So where are you today? Are you able to let things go and move on and move closer to God and away from this offense? I will leave you with this verse out of 1 Peter 3:11 which says " He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it."

PRAYER:Lord I confess to you I sometimes get upset when people are not acting nice and want to pay them back. I know for a believer that is not the correct response but it is to be kind and gracious and speak to others like I would want spoken to. Help me Lord as I seek to lead a life pleasing to you. In Jesus Name. Amen.



Let me leave you with a wonderful song of praise and worship to lift your spirits if you are feeling angry. Click on link below and worship the Lord.
http://youtu.be/Tg1erjHNfCE