Overcome Evil with Good

Has someone you had the utmost respect for hurt you? Perhaps someone in the church. A brother or sister in the Lord either intentionally or unintentionally did something, said something or didn’t do something as agreed and it hurt deep inside. Seems like evil.

Saul was king over Israel, but disobeyed God. Therefore, David was chosen by the Lord to be the next king. Though Saul disobeyed, he was not removed immediately from his position. He was still king.

During Saul’s reign, he felt threatened by David and tried to kill him many times. Now David knew he was selected by God to be the next king. He narrowly escaped death by Saul. Perhaps justifiably David could have taken Saul out, but David did not.

Twice David spared Saul’s life. First, David and his men were in a cave in the desert. Saul went into the very cave where David was hidden. David’s men encouraged him to take out Saul. Starting to take advantage of the moment, David sneaked upon Saul undetected and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. But then his conscience struck him and he said, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.” Then he would not let his men to attack Saul either. (1 Samuel 24:5-7)

He then went out, bowed down and prostrated himself before Saul, the king. David told him that he could have taken his life, but spared him. Saul wept and confessed he treated David badly. David gave an oath that he would not cut off Saul’s descendants.

The second time, Saul sets out to search for David. The Lord put Saul and all his men in a deep sleep. David went into Saul’s camp with Abishai. Abishai was ready to take Saul out in his sleep. But David said to him, “Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless? As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go.” (1 Samuel 26:9-11)

Again David confronts Saul with some distance between them of course. Again Saul confessed that he sinned and promises not to harm David. David answered Saul by saying, “Here is the king's spear. Let one of your young men come over and get it. The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and deliver me from all trouble.” (1 Samuel 26:22-24)

After reading about how David dealt with Saul, a man who tried to kill him, I’m in awe how David refused to touch the Lord’s anointed. David recognized that the Lord placed Saul in the position he was in and had not removed him from it. David respected Saul for his position and left it up to God for when Saul was to be removed and David to take the throne. David did not manipulate or make things happen. He believed that what God told him would come to pass in God’s timing.

David was kind and generous to Saul in spite his cruelty to him. He did not repay evil for evil, but with good. Like David, we’re to be kind and generous to our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ—the Lord’s anointed, when some injustice happens to us. At some time, someone in the church is likely to do something that will hurt us, offend us or is just outright cruel. Would we like to see justice served? Of course. Do we feel like they’re our enemy? Probably.

Romans 12:17-21 NIV

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 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. On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Overcome evil with good Paul said. Perhaps by being kind and walking in forgiveness, they will see the grace of God in their lives and change their ways. Even if not, we will see God operate in our lives for HIS glory. He never fails!

Blessings in Christ--

Brotherly Love

This conversation took place last night at the dinner table:

Older Brother: There are two other friends I want to invite to my graduation reception. I can’t think of their names right now, but they’re sisters. Adopted. One’s from Egypt and the other from Africa.

Little Brother: Well if she’s from Egypt, then they’re both from Africa.

[At this point you can hear the buzzer going off…AAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNTTT!]

Older Brother: [Face turning red…struggling to say anything…knowing little brother got him good.]

Well, you know what I mean.

[Older brother refused to acknowledge verbally the little brother was RIGHT!]

Older Brother: Egypt is a state in Africa.

Little Brother: [Gloating in victory. Knowing he’s got this one clenched. Finally one up on older brother.] No it’s not. Egypt is a country on the continent of Africa.

Older Brother: [making excuses and getting up from table to make retreat] I’m tired from work. I can’t think right now.

Hebrews 13:1 NKJV

Let brotherly love continue.

Blessings in Christ--

Get Up, Persevere, and Fulfill the Call

When circumstances beat you up, what do you do? Lie down in defeat or get up. Persevere or quit? God has a call on your life. Are you moving toward and walking in what He’s called you to do?

GET UP

Acts 14:19-20 NIV

Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

Paul and Barnabus have been out preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. They witnessed the power of God through Jesus Christ heal a crippled man. This stirred up hostility with the Jews. So the Jews from Antioch went to Lystra to incite a riot. They ganged up on Paul. They beat him up, took him out the city and left him for dead. What kind of reception is that for going out to share the gospel that Jesus saves?

I just wonder if at this point if Paul, in agony and full of pain, just wanted to lie there and die. If in his pain he just wanted to be left alone. I wonder did he even let the “why me?” thoughts enter his mind. To see such a great victory in Christ and then to experience such a low point, do you think that would be disappointing? How often do we think like that? Be disappointed? Honestly, I know I have had those kinds of thoughts. We don’t know what Paul’s thoughts were at this moment.

We do know this—the disciples gathered around him. When he was beaten, his trusted, godly friends were there for him. They protected him. Perhaps they encouraged him too. We need godly friends to encourage us to press on. We need godly friends who will gather around us as we get up. Paul’s friends took him back into the city for the night and they left the next day. Then Paul and his disciples went right on preaching in the next city, Derbe.

PERSEVERE

Acts 14:21-22 NIV

They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

After winning a large number of people to the Lord in Derbe, Paul and his disciples go right back to the place where he was stoned. Crazy! Wouldn’t you think they’d find another way home? No, he didn’t. Paul wanted to encourage the new disciples in their faith. He wanted to let them know to remain true and faithful.

As disciples for Christ we will face many difficulties. He was an example to the people who witnessed his stoning by getting up and going on about what the Lord called him to do. As believers in Christ we need to walk out our faith in hardships as examples to encourage other believers.

Later Paul tells Timothy (who by the way is from Lystra), “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:10-12 NIV)

Let us be encouraged! The scriptures tell us we’ll have persecutions. James tells us to “consider it pure joy” because when our faith is tested, it produces perseverance. We need perseverance to that we can be mature and complete. It’s how we learn and grow. The other night when my friend came over to encourage me, she told me, “God uses our circumstances to shape our character.”

FULFILL THE CALL

Paul clearly knew his purpose to preach the gospel of Christ. He did not let circumstances beat him down. Paul had been imprisoned, flogged, lashed, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked and more (complete list in 2 Cor. 11). He never quit. As believers, we need to know our purpose. It needs to be clear and evident in our lives or else it will be too easy to quit.

The purpose the Lord has for me is becoming more and more evident (other than being a wife and mother which is my first ministry). God is revealing this call through people and circumstances that He places in my life. Opportunities have recently opened for me in the area of teaching, speaking, and writing. On May 5-7, I am registered to attend a speakers and writers conference by CLASServices. I’m taking advantage of additional services CLASS offers and submitted a book proposal and sample manuscript for critique. I haven’t done anything like this before, but felt deep in me I had to do it. That was the deadline I had to meet this past weekend. It had to be in the mail on time. After I receive this training, I have already been asked to speak at a women’s event on May 17. May God receive all the glory!!

I thank all of you who prayed for me this past weekend. It meant a lot to me as you were the friends who gathered around me when I was “beaten down.” In spite of the hardships, I feel such a burden to press on with what the Lord has put on my heart to do. I can’t quit, but must persevere!

What's your calling? Get up, persevere and fulfill God's plan for your life! Let's encourage one another and...

Luke 18:1 (NIV)

“…always pray and not give up.”

Blessings in Christ--

Boast in the Lord

I am weak. God is strong. I experienced mountain top jubilation this past week. I stood on the precipice shouting out victory. Then in just a matter of moments, everything changed. Knocked off, I fell to the bottom. Shattered. Broken. Emptied.

I had no idea when I felt led to post about grace on Thursday morning, just how much I’d need by Thursday afternoon. Yes, His grace is sufficient. After going through a gamut of emotions, tears, fears, and anxieties, I assessed the situation. Like Angela at Becoming Me wrote on classifying bad news, this classifies as Major, but in my selfishness I saw it as cataclysmic.

I have been taking steps of faith, moving in a direction of desires that I believe are from the Lord. Everything was working and functioning so beautifully. Then brokenness hit me. I wondered if I was stepping out the wrong way, the wrong time or if this was an attempt of diversion by the enemy and/or a test from the Lord. There is something I feel so strong about and it has a deadline of Monday. Do I move toward it or do I quit?

After my soul settled with much prayer, I sought the Lord. I couldn’t hear Him myself, so I sought godly counsel. First, I sought counsel through my husband. He encouraged me to press on. Still uncertain, I sought godly counsel from one of my entrusted friend’s, one of my best confidants. She gave me words of wisdom from the Lord. Encouraged me and my spirit lightened. Still, I spoke with one more person. Like Gideon asking many times for confirmation, I asked one more time. The second friend who doesn’t know the first friend or what we spoke about, used the exact words and examples as my first friend. I was blown away. God spoke to me through these people within the same hour. I have heard clearly from the Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Amplified

9But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

10So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength).

I am weak. It is confirmed I have something the Lord wants me to do. I cannot operate in my strength. Only by the power of Christ who lives in me can I press on this weekend. I am in pieces, but He is my life. As Paul said, I shall take pleasure in this hardship and distress.

His grace is enough! For it is not me, but Christ that lives in me and in Christ shall I boast!!

Grace, Grace

2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

“The other evening I was riding home after a heavy day's work. I felt wearied and sore depressed, when swiftly and suddenly that text came to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee.' I reached home and looked it up in the original, and at last it came to me in this way. ‘My grace is sufficient for THEE.' And I said, ‘I should think it is, Lord,' and I burst out laughing. I never understood what the holy laughter of Abraham was till then. It seemed to make unbelief so absurd...O brethren, be great believers . Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your souls.[1]”

Charles H. Spurgeon

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[1] William Williams, Personal Remembrances of Charles Haddon Spurgeon (London: Passmore and Alabaster, 1895), 25