It is always within our control on how we react to negative or hurtful people. So many times we are tempted to pay back evil with evil because of how wronged we feel, but that is not how a believer should ever react. When we are treated harshly or feel disrespected our first instinct is to defend ourselves and respond in the same manner. We want to make that one feel just as badly as they have made us feel, but that is not how God wishes for us to react. The Lord Jesus tells how His followers should react to being wronged in Matthew 5:38-42 “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.” Our reaction should never be flesh-based because we will always want revenge, but when we pause and remember that God is our vindicator we will allow His judgment to be our final authority. (Luke 6:31-36) (1 Peter 1:22-25)

That is why living in peace is so important for us. We don’t have to allow what happens to us externally to impact how we feel internally. We can rest in the knowledge that if God be for us then who can dare to be against us? The Bible declares in Romans 12:19-21 “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.” We have to allow the light that is within our hearts to shine so brightly that it overwhelms and overtakes those who mean to do us harm. We should also keep in mind that the actions of others shouldn’t dictate our reaction. We should stay in God’s perfect peace that surpasses all understanding so that we can continue to live a blessed and encouraged life no matter how hard others try to dissuade us from doing so. Remember that God is our vindicator. We don’t have to fight back to show ourselves strong because He is strong enough to fight for us and elevate our life in the process. (Romans 8:31-39) (Matthew 5:14-16)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to never allow yourself to take the bait of quarreling with another. Stay in peace and allow the Lord to work through your life.


THE MOST IMPORTANT TRIP YOU MAY EVER TAKE

It is accurately said that it is easy to be an angel when nobody ruffles your feathers. But it seems that feather rufflers will always be around.

We're told that 19th Century German statesman Prince Otto von Bismarck once became so incensed at the criticism of a professor (he must have ruffled the prince's feathers), that he challenged him to a duel. Protocol had it that the one challenged was to have the choice of weapons.

The professor made his choice...sausages! He sent word to Bismarck, along with a pair of sausages, that one sausage was safe to eat. The other had been poisoned with trichinae, which would cause a slow and lingering death, or at least long invalidism. He informed the prince that he should choose which sausage to eat and said he would eat the other one.

Bismarck reasoned that a man might die with some sort of honor on a dueling field, but never by food poisoning. He sent the message back, “His highness has destroyed the sausages and asks that you be his guest at dinner this evening. After due consideration he feels he may have been slightly in error. He believes an agreement can be reached.”

One of the most important trips a person ever takes is “to meet someone halfway.” Bismarck met his adversary halfway and chose to bring something useful from his conflict.

When others ruffle our feathers, we always have a choice. We can meet them on the dueling field, where one will clearly win and the other will lose, or we can meet them halfway. Even armed only with words, we can seek to hurt or we can seek a solution.

The choice we make will make all the difference.

By Steve Goodier


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Romans 12:14-17 “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth...”

Isaiah 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”

Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. 


Today’s Selected Poem: WHAT'S HOPE?
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem98.htm

Today’s Selected Testimony: I'M AN OVERCOMER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony76.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry