by Dona Hake
Several months ago I can recall hearing an interview, and this gentleman’s response to a question were so profound. I wrote it all down for I knew I would use it in a devotional someday. The news reporter was discussing with this man about a despicable act that someone had done, and it seemed hard to believe someone would do such a thing. The reporter asked this man, “How does someone come to a place to commit such a terrible act?” This gentleman’s response was, “If you yield yourself to evil, it will take you places you do not want to go.” He began to share about two words that connected to his statement, and they were REVERSE AND REVENGE. He said if you go into reverse over something that has happened to you, you could end up in revenge. Powerful words aren’t they?
Apart from the work of grace in our lives, any one of us could be capable to doing the unthinkable. The Word of God speaks to us of the importance that we never allow bitterness and hatred in our hearts for it will surely grow and fester. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ went to the cross and shed His blood that we could be forgiven, and we too need to be forgiving of anything that happens to us, or any offense that comes toward us.
Ephesians 4:31 (Amplified Version)
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence].
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence].
James 4:7 (Amplified Version)
So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil
So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil
[stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.
As we submit ourselves to the authority of God, we must hold fast to knowing that He will be our stronghold, and strength in times of trouble. His love is deeper than anything we will ever face, and His love always is victorious. In this life we will all experience things that may hurt our souls but we must be resolute in forgiving those that offend or hurt us. We must never permit ourselves to keep looking back and position ourselves to step into a reverse mode. We must stand firm against the devil when he comes to tempt us to think evil thoughts toward anyone. As Ephesians 4:31 states, we must put away bitterness, anger resentment, strife, faultfinding…just to name a few. May we be quick to run away and resist the devil and run to the living God who promises to make us stand strong in our time of temptation.