Overcoming evil with good
by Wendy Whitten
It seems that every day we read in our newspapers stories of people who have been wronged in some way who are now fighting for justice. The victims of discrimination, those who lose their jobs ‘unfairly’, are all claiming large sums of money in compensation. When a loved one is injured or dies, they ask “whose fault is it? Who can we sue?” So many people in the world today are looking to blame someone for their problems. “It’s not fair” is the oft-heard cry.
What did Jesus teach us? Fight for what is yours? Take revenge on your enemies? NO - we are encouraged to love our enemies. That means those who hurt us, those who have betrayed us, or treated us unfairly, those who have discriminated against us, those who have let us down, cheated us, taken from us, used us, abused us - we are told not only to forgive them but to actively love them in return! Bless them; give to them.
Our human(sinful) nature is to fight back, retaliate, get our revenge, claim ‘our rights’, but if we learn to live as Jesus taught us, we will have peace in our hearts.
So, today, perhaps, as we meet young people who swear at us on the street or those who threaten us and cause us fear, as we meet angry colleagues, a critical boss, or difficult family members, let’s practise loving them, showing them acceptance and trying to understand them. Let’s choose to let go of ‘our rights’ and allow the love of Jesus to flow through us and disarm our enemies! Let’s choose to let Jesus fight our battles for us. Then we will be assured of lasting, eternal victory.
Prayer: Dear Lord, You know the difficulties I face today. You know the people who seem to be my enemies. Please help me see them as You do, with Your heart of love. Please give me Your love for them and help me practise that love today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Wendy Whitten joined Ellel Ministries in 1993 and has served the Lord in the UK Centres, as well as spending many years in Eastern Europe and more recently in India and The Netherlands. She is now based at Ellel Grange. Previously an engineer, now better known as a musician and artist, she delights to impart to others something of the abundant life that Jesus has brought to her.
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