Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:17-21)
Our all too common response when others act toward us in ways that we feel hurt, or slighted is to lash back at them, or devise a response that ends up being worse than the original trespass. And when believers strike out against the lost, for doing lost people things, they ruin their testimony and their witness. We in the Church need to respond as Jesus did, with love and compassion. That doesn't mean we don't confront error where it exists, but we must understand from whence the sIn comes from and not hurt our brothers and sisters in Christ by our words and our actions in response to their misdeeds. And it is even more important when dealing with lost people whom we are trying to reach with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As the passage states, when we do good to those that are against us, we can overcome their evil ways, and leave the results up to GOD. Leave everything to Him.
For those that are wondering, I can't do that, you may be right because Jesus is not Lord for you. If you have never received Him as your Saviour and surrendered to Him on His terms, you cannot accomplish this; for He says without Me you can do nothing, and He also tells us that those without Christ are dead. But I have good news: He wants to forgive and establish you in the beloved. He is not willing that any should perish and contends with you to be born again and have a brand new life in Him. I pray that you will respond to Him today.
If you are one of His, let Him live in you in obedience to His Word so that others may see and want what you have.
In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet
For those that are wondering, I can't do that, you may be right because Jesus is not Lord for you. If you have never received Him as your Saviour and surrendered to Him on His terms, you cannot accomplish this; for He says without Me you can do nothing, and He also tells us that those without Christ are dead. But I have good news: He wants to forgive and establish you in the beloved. He is not willing that any should perish and contends with you to be born again and have a brand new life in Him. I pray that you will respond to Him today.
If you are one of His, let Him live in you in obedience to His Word so that others may see and want what you have.
In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet
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