There are two rules that create a significant fork in the road our faith journey takes in life. We either move toward the light or descend into the dark:
#1: The “Golden Rule” says: Treat others as you want to be treated.
#2: The evil one has his own rule that’s no so golden: Treat others as they have treated you.
God’s fork is crystal clear:
“Don’t say I’ll do to them just what they did to me! I’ll get even with them!” Proverbs 24:29 GNT
Making sure we take God’s fork starts when we consider the two distinct response options we face after being wronged by a person or circumstance:
GOD-CENTRIC: The righteous path that pleases God, brings peace, and grows our faith. He wants us to defer anger, ignore our offender, show forgiveness, and express kindness.
SELF-CENTIC: The selfish path that follows darkness and produces destruction. The enemy wants us to get angry, memorize and remember the offense, and plot revenge.
Taking the enemy’s fork instantly makes us a slave to our offender. Painful images then start moving across the mind’s cinema and stir up plans to seek revenge on the offending party.
But saying “I’ll do to him just as he has done to me” is the opposite of what God’s wisdom, grace, and love instructs us to say.
I ask God to guide me toward the righteous path that pleases him and grows my faith. To help me defuse my anger. To have me forgive others because of his forgiveness promise for me in Ephesians 4:32.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is there a “revenge movie” playing in your life right now? Who can you forgive today? What bitterness, or grudge can you cancel today?
