REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, written by Pastor Sam Lee who leads Catalyst Agape Church in Northern New Jersey, was first posted on July 23, 2014. He is a graduate of University of Wisconsin (BA) and Biblical Theological Seminary (M.Div.).
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Trusting God When We Are Wronged”
1 Peter 2:23
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
Parent’s natural instinct is to shield their child from harm. But in a fallen world, this is an impossible task. No one can be shielded from every possible disappointment, rejection, lie, spiritual attack, and sin in general. We do not live in a bubble, but in a fallen world where we sin against others, and others sin against us.
Jesus, the Son of God, though perfect and sinless, faced disappointments and the sins of others. The Bible says, “He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him.” (Jn.1:11). The Father God did not shield His only Son from sin; but instead, the sin of the world was on Jesus, and He overcame sin: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just a we are – yet He did not sin” (Heb.4:15).
How do you respond when others sin against you? The Bible says that Jesus “did not retaliate… He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.” Jesus taught His disciples to forgive those who hurt them instead of holding on to their sins against them. We, as well, are to let those offenses go instead of holding on to them. Does that mean that we are to forget what they did to us? No, not forget; but rather, trust. Instead of trusting in ourselves to be the judge, jury, and executioner, we trust the Lord who is the perfect Judge.
Prayer: Lord, minister to my heart, bringing healing and freedom. I choose to forgive those who have hurt me, and I release them into your hands. You vindicate me, Lord. You redeem and restore relationships. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Song of Songs 2
Lunch Break Study
Read Hebrews 12:15: See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Gal. 5:15: If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Questions to Consider
- What is a typical outcome of being bitter and judging those who have hurt us?
- What does it mean when you cease to be the judge and have the Lord be the judge over those who hurt you?
Notes
- Hebrews 12:15 uses the word “trouble,” while the Galatian passage says “destruction,” referring to broken relationships. As a result of being a bitter and critical person, loneliness may ensue since no one really likes to be around people with these characteristics.
- In short, you allow God to handle the situation and the people who are hurting you. One way to implement this is to “love your enemies” by “pray[ing] for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44).
Evening Reflection
How can God use difficult relationships to work out His purpose in your life?