Verse of the Day - 1 Thessalonians 5:15

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NIV)

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It's usually very easy to be kind to someone who is kind to you, isn't it? When I go through the Starbucks drive-thru line, the barista says, "Welcome to Starbucks, my name is ____, how are you doing today?" I respond, "Very good, thank you. And how about yourself?" It's all very pleasant, and I drive away with a yummy coffee and a smile. Simple pleasures, eh?

But what if that barista came on the squawk-box and said, "Hurry up, it's almost time for my break. Whaddaya want?" Hmm....do I tell her, "Nothing, except to get away from your rude behind...", or come back with a kind response, like, "Wow, you must've had a really busy day. Sorry you're stressed. I'd like a ......"

True, when someone is rude to us, it throws us back. We're shocked! But the Lord tells us to check ourselves, to put ourselves in the other person's shoes, to put on the mind of Christ, and show kindness. To speak lovingly and do good. Ooo, sometimes it can be hard, huh?

Depending on the level of wrong done to us, we seem to think that we can gauge whether a wrong done back is deserving. Okay, so a clerk is rude -- you think, "Gee, did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?", but you can usually take that with a grain of salt and stay pleasant. But if a kid on a skateboard veers off the sidewalk into your traffic lane because he's messing around with his friends, you might be tempted to honk really loud right when you pass him, to scare the mess out of him, or get a little close to him with your car, just so he thinks twice about trying that again. Or take it 20,000 levels deeper: a friend or family member is killed by a drunk driver, and you fight the urge to burn down the suspect's house . . . or worse.

When is it okay to do wrong for wrong? God says never. In the little things and in the big things. Why? Because God says to leave room for Him, as the judge of men...

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. ~ Romans 12:19 (NIV)

There's a saying that goes, "Kill 'em with kindness." Not sure if that's exactly the attitude we should have :-), but the point is that love does cover over a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8), a gentle answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1) and doing good to your enemies reflects the character and ways of God (Matthew 5:43-48). This is maybe one of the hardest Christian disciplines to grasp and attain. Sure, don't steal or kill -- easy. Be nice to jerks and criminals? Grrr....

No doubt, it's a tough command from God, but it is what we're called to do. So, since we know it easily goes against our natural grain, we need to ask God to help us. Daily. Sometimes, hourly, if you are in the midst of people or circumstances where you have been or are being wronged. I don't believe that we're not to take legitimate corrective action when harm is done, but our attitude should be one of love, not condemnation. Remember -- God loves us, in spite of all the wrong we do to Him, and continues to forgive and cleanse us when we confess our sins (1 John 1:9).

Becoming Christ-like is hard work, amen? But it's the highest form of worship we could ever give to God and the highest blessing we could ever receive from God.

Love,
Joelene