April 17
1 Samuel 23:13-29; Psalm 54; 1 Samuel 24:1-25:44
Treat others how you want to be treated. This is one of the most fundamental lessons that parents attempt to instill in their children. This attitude is so difficult, because our broken hearts long to lash out at those who have hurt us. The Bible teaches and Jesus models a radically different ethic than to treat others how you have been treated. We can see in David a shadow of what will be crystalized by Jesus. David has an opportunity to rid himself of Saul who has been consistently trying to kill him—yet he refuses to assassinate him. He trusts that God will open the door for him to be king and does not need to take vengeance. Then when he decides to attack Nabal for his rudeness, he is relieved when Abigail intervenes.
To have a heart that is not motivated by vengeance, we have to trust God will provide perfect justice. God always calls us to shower grace and kindness upon others, and waiting upon God's timing will lead to the best outcome. Christ will come to judge the living and the dead, so we can leave God to perfectly deal with those who have hurt us.
Father God, thank you that you are a God of justice. Thank you for dealing with the sin in the world and redeeming all things. Help me to wait upon you and respond with love and grace towards those who hurt me. Amen.
What step can you take today to begin responding to others the way God wants rather than the way you have been treated?
Treat others how you want to be treated. This is one of the most fundamental lessons that parents attempt to instill in their children. This attitude is so difficult, because our broken hearts long to lash out at those who have hurt us. The Bible teaches and Jesus models a radically different ethic than to treat others how you have been treated. We can see in David a shadow of what will be crystalized by Jesus. David has an opportunity to rid himself of Saul who has been consistently trying to kill him—yet he refuses to assassinate him. He trusts that God will open the door for him to be king and does not need to take vengeance. Then when he decides to attack Nabal for his rudeness, he is relieved when Abigail intervenes.
To have a heart that is not motivated by vengeance, we have to trust God will provide perfect justice. God always calls us to shower grace and kindness upon others, and waiting upon God's timing will lead to the best outcome. Christ will come to judge the living and the dead, so we can leave God to perfectly deal with those who have hurt us.
Father God, thank you that you are a God of justice. Thank you for dealing with the sin in the world and redeeming all things. Help me to wait upon you and respond with love and grace towards those who hurt me. Amen.
What step can you take today to begin responding to others the way God wants rather than the way you have been treated?
Recent
Archive
2025
January
January 1January 2January 3January 4January 5January 6January 7January 8January 9January 10January 11January 12January 13January 14January 15January 16January 17January 18January 19January 20January 21January 22January 23January 24January 25January 26January 27January 28January 29January 30January 31
February
March
Categories
no categories
No Comments