Scripture to Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:15
God knows we struggle with anger and vengeance. If we did not struggle with anger and revenge, there would not be so many Scriptures from God telling us to overcome these emotions. Today in 1 Thessalonians 5:15 God tells us that we are NOT to repay evil to anyone even if someone does evil against us. Jesus said it this way in Matthew 5:44, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” God wants us praying for those who hurt us, who do evil against us, and for those who hate us. Loving others is a true sign that God lives in us and that we are choosing to obey Him over our feelings. The hard part for us is that we would rather believe our feelings over God’s Truth. We must choose to die to our feelings when our feelings do not line up with God’s Truth. Think of the number of times you, or someone you know, has said something like this, “I just know it’s right because I feel it in my heart.” The problem with trusting our feelings is that our feelings can deceive us because we are very self-centered in most of our feelings. Again, God tells us in 1 Peter 3:9 “not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.” God wants us to seek after that which is good for everyone and when we do, we honor Him abundantly.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about anger and revenge and also about love and prayer?
2. How will you show love and kindness this week to people who have been evil toward you?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!