Revenge, July 14, 2008
Revenge, July 14, 2008 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.
"Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.'
"And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man,
'yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'"
Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said.
"And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
"I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1-8 www.solascriptura.com Jesus, here You teach us that fervent, constant prayer, from we who cry out to You, day and night, in the midst of our persecution, is commended. You tell us You will avenge, speedily, but we know from other things that You have told us that with You, a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day. Help us keep the time we spend here in perspective. It is but a moment compared to eternity. We sometimes act as though whatever we want will be addressed immediately when, in fact, You are using our circumstances to teach us to be patient. Your word says, "Wait, wait I say, upon the Lord". There are times, Father, when we thought there was something we really wanted You to do, and as it turns out, it is something that we are glad you did not do. Teach us to not lose heart when events here seem hopelessly difficult. Help us, this day, to trust in Your judgment, to keep the faith and to know that You have shown us how much You care. We never go through trials, as Your children, alone. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Revenge, June 20, 2008
Revenge, June 20, 2008 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him.
Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the wicked;
For there will be no prospect for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out. Proverbs 24:17-20, www.solascriptura.com Father, the Wisdom of Solomon tells us that we should take no pleasure in the failure of people who do not like us and that if we do, it displeases You. Help us this day not to act as though we are responsible for judging the affairs of evil people. We pray for their salvation. Seeing the lamp of an evil person put out is to see them suffering in darkness forever. We too once were disobedient (and we still are, at times). Thank You for preserving our opportunity to be saved even while we were yet sinners. We pray that Your enemies and our enemies will yet become Your forgiven children. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Salvation, June 8, 2008
Salvation, June 8, 2008 … We who first trusted in Christ... In Him you also trusted after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:12-14, www.solascriptura.com
Father, Paul was a Jew speaking to Jews, at first, (but many rejected Jesus as Messiah) and here in his letter to the Ephesians, a Gentile area, Paul teaches us that those who love You and obey You are "sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise". Father, for this degree of certainty, we are grateful.
Our inheritance is guaranteed. It was purchased by the blood of Jesus, whose redemptive act guarantees our standing before You. Help us, this day, to fully grasp what has happened, what was foreknown to You before it ever happened and that which was clearly declared by Your prophets, hundred of years before it happened. Prophecy fulfilled; adding certainty where doubt could arise. You, Father, are the guarantor of our salvation. Perfect! Amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Revenge, May 31, 2008
Revenge, May 31, 2008 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
"But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
"If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
"And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
"Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
"that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
"For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
"And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
"Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matt 5:38-48, www.solascriptura.com Father, we are so ill-equipped to be perfect when we are in our flesh. Our flesh, the domain of evil inclinations, is as our enemy, something to be overcome. You, Father, have even called those who love You, "overcomers". Why Father have You created us in such weakness? We know the answer; so your power can be made manifest in our weakness allowing us to be as You. Father, loving You, as we look at the wonder of Your creation, and learn of Your love for us, seems relatively easy compared to loving each other. We are "in the flesh" far too often, making it difficult for our children, spouses and friends to easily love us. Since that seems true Father, help each of us this day to constantly check our demeanor, making it much easier to love and to be loved, to forgive and to be forgiven. There are times Father that we just don't feel like being Spiritually whole. Help us not to follow the lead of our feelings but to follow You. In Jesus' Holy name we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Revenge, May 10, 2008
Revenge, May 10, 2008 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21 Jesus, we know that You personally taught Paul the wisdom that he brings to us. What a reassuring thing it is to find complete consistency between his words and Yours. Here we learn that when we are kind and gentle in the face of someone who is angry with us, it confounds them and our kindness, undeserved, actually disarms them. We take no credit for the fruits of the Spirit manifested in our relationships and we do not seek praise from men for being patient and full of self-control. Teach us today what it means to say, "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me". Help us this day to overcome evil with good. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Revenge, April 17, 2008
Revenge, April 17, 2008 " the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them."...
See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Luke 9:-56, 1Thessalonians 5:15, www.solascriptura.com Jesus, Your purpose is to save lives that we might exist in eternity with You. It is Satan that is set on bringing us down and accusing us of sin. Satan wins unless we realize that we need a new heart and a new start. You "save" us when we accept, by God's grace, Your sacrifice on the cross as one which cleanses each of us personally. Equip us this day to not render evil for evil. Revenge is the province of the unforgiving where they presume to judge others instead of accepting and redistributing Your forgiveness and love. Strengthen our resolve, this day, to be Your good and faithful servants. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
Labels: Revenge
Revenge, March 25, 2008
Revenge, March 25, 2008 ... it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,
and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power... II Thessalonians 1:6-9, www.solascriptura.com Jesus, Paul reminds us that when judgment is dispensed it will be a righteous thing because it will be based upon justice. We know Father that the mercy seat sits upon the top of the Ark of the Covenant (the Law) and that mercy will prevail for those who seek it. Revenge will be taken upon the enemy, not the children of You, Father. We, in sadness and with a sense of despair, see people pursuing sin and running from obedience. Give us, this day, a sense of urgency in our witness to those who seem to be fleeing from You. The death of a saint is glorious but the death of an unrepentant sinner is an eternal tragedy. Help us to focus on what You would have us do in the face of such circumstances. We know that Your love in us is our only hope in reaching out to others. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
Labels: Revenge
Revenge #17
‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. It is God who avenges me, and subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above Leviticus 19:18, Ps 18:47-48, www.solascriptura.comFather, it is so difficult not to seek revenge when we are offended. We instinctively react in an aggressive manner whether we know the offender or not. That Father, is not Your way. You have told us not to hold a grudge about new or old offenses and to love others as ourselves. There is no way we can do that absent Your Holy Spirit in us. To be like You is to forgive as we have been forgiven. Help us today to know that You are in charge and where offenders need retribution, we do not have to be their judge. It is You that subdues the aggressor and it is You that lifts us up. This is one of the very difficult lessons to learn Father and we ask You today to show us Your way, Your patience, and Your kindness in the midst of trials where we are tempted to avenge. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell Labels: Revenge
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