Leave it to the Lord   Scripture Reading: Romans 12:19 - 21

“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the LORD. Instead, ‘If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.’ Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”  

It happened to Jesus, the One who is and was perfect in all that He thought, said and did, so you can be sure my sisters and brothers that it will happen to you and I too. There will be times when people use or abuse us, and in those situations or seasons it will be up to us exactly how we will respond. The worlds way is, ‘If you hit me, I will hit you back harder’, or, ‘Just wait, you’ll get yours, and what comes around goes around’.

But the way in which God calls us to respond in His mercy and grace is that we would choose to, ‘Leave it to the Lord’. Knowing that God has treated us kindly in the past through Christ Jesus and His mercies are once again new even today, we are to leave the matters of getting even or revenge to God, knowing that in the end He will make all things right, and bring all of the hidden things and secrets motivations in people’s hearts to light.

Rather than despising our enemies or plotting against them, God is calling us to reach out to them with the same love that we have received today from Christ. Are they hungry, or thirsty? Is there a need in their life? If God is calling us across their pathway we are to be those who choose to feed, clothe and help them, praying that God will bring them to the same place of salvation that He has brought to us.

If indeed they have been plotting our demise, there will be a sense of shame that God may grant them, hopefully drawing them to the grace of God. It is true that sometimes bad things happen to good people, and life is not always fair. But remember my sister and brother, our God is always good, and He is the One who is in charge and over our lives. Instead of hitting back and plotting evil in our hearts towards others, God will give us the grace to respond with His love and mercy, bringing honor, glory and praise to His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  

Prayer My Father in heaven, how I rejoice once again today for the love of God that is mine in Christ Jesus. I do pray that You will forgive me my sins as I forgive those who sin against me, and make me respond to people with Your same love. I ask You to move through my life, my heart, my words and my deeds to draw people to Jesus, in His holy name.  

Memory Verse: James 1:17a “Whatever is _____ and ________ comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.”