Do you seek revenge? Do you look to pay someone for treating you badly in like manner? Do you heap insult upon insult in repayment for someone insulting you? Or are you willing to love the person instead?
We see much repaying evil for evil in our culture today. It seems to be all around us. Too often, we allow ourselves to be caught up in it as well. If we were to open our eyes, we would see that we are seeking revenge. Not only are people repaying evil with evil, but often repaying with more than they received.
Isn’t it funny? We can see this is everyone else, but not in ourselves? We fail to take time to think before we react. We fail to take time for some introspection. We fail to look in the mirror at ourselves. Yet, we will complain about the other person who does the same.
We are called to something different entirely. If we are to be the light in this world, we must be different than this world. We are called to be like-minded with other Christians. In order to do that, we need to read and study our Bibles. We need to understand God’s plan, which comes from His Word.
We are to be sympathetic with those who are suffering. Jesus provides us several examples of being sympathetic. Many times, His sympathy was displayed along with sorrow and a heavy heart that wept for those who suffered.
We are to love one another. This is an action word. We are to show our love through actions, being there for one another. We are to show our love for our fellow Christians first, then to the world. We are called to a brotherhood, sisterhood that cannot fail.
We are to be compassionate toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. That compassion is to drive us to support each other. It should cause us to wrap our arms around those who need our comfort.
We are to be humble. Being humble doesn’t mean we must allow people to push us around. It does mean we let go of our pride and submit to obeying God. We are to be willing to go where God calls us to go and do what He calls us to do.
I pray each one of us will take on being who God has called us to be. I pray we all look to follow Jesus’ example. I pray we become the light in this world God has called us to be. Be like Jesus. Be of Christian mind. Be sympathetic. Love one another. Be compassionate. Be humble. Submit to God. You will reap a great reward.
1 Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 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.
Marty Pressey 