1 Samuel 26:23

The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. 1 Samuel 26:23

It is easy for most people to take advantage of an opportunity to harm their enemy when the opportunity arises. There is very little concern as to who the person is or if doing so is the right thing to do.

Choosing the right thing to do is often harder than doing what feels best or what one has been taught to do in a situation.

David had an opportunity to kill Saul but did not because he would not harm the Lord’s anointed. He knew that God would reward his righteousness and faithfulness.

While the world focuses on doing what feels good in the moment, believers are to do what is right. The believer must focus on being faithful to obeying God and all of His commands.

Making the choice to do what is right is often very difficult. It goes against the ways of the world and can sometimes be painful or bring on more trouble down the road. The reward for doing the right thing does not always appear right away. In the moment all that may appear is trouble.

God is watching every believer and the choices he makes. There will come a time when He will reward every believer for his righteousness and faithfulness. David was later rewarded with a great kingdom and lineage to the Savior for his faithfulness to God.

The ultimate reward for the believer is being allowed to step into heaven and hear God tell him that he was a good and faithful servant. The believer will gain a kingdom that is greater than that of David.

Throughout your life, as a believer, you will have many opportunities to make a choice to do the right thing and be faithful to God or not. The pressures and leading of this world will strive to get you to make selfish choices that are not right.

Allow yourself to be led and strengthened by the Holy Spirit to make the right choice to be faithful to God in every situation. Let God bring His reward to you in His way and in His time. It will be greater than any temporary reward you may grab on this earth.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will reveal to you the right choices to make in every situation; that God will find you to be a faithful servant; that you will see the reward God has for your faithfulness; and that you will trust God in every situation in your life.

Calm lake in a valley

The LORD rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed. 1 Samuel 26:23

Revenge is what a lot of people want and will take if given the opportunity. They will strive to get back at a person who has done wrong to them. Often people think it is their right to be able to strike back at the enemy or any person who has done some wrong to them.

This revenge is often covered up by calling it justice or giving the person what he deserves.

David was being chased by King Saul to be destroyed, even though David had never did anything against the king. At one point, David and his men come upon Saul during the night, while he was sleeping, and had the opportunity to kill Saul. According to the normal customs at the time, he had that right. Yet, David does not want to even touch Saul. He chooses to turn down the opportunity for revenge and trusts God for His deliverance.

It is easy to think that God had given David the opportunity to kill Saul, yet, David would not. He was looking at something greater, God’s love for all people. David would let God deal with His enemies in His way and in His time.

Every believer will have days where the opportunity to strike back physically against his enemy will arise. He will have to make a choice as to what he will do at that time.

Following the ways of the world and striking the enemy is easy. Yet, God’s ways are to show mercy, grace, and love–refusing to strike or get revenge. Jesus later stated that the believer is to turn the cheek and forgive many times.

As a believer, there was a time when you had been an enemy of God. He could have chosen to strike and kill you many times. Yet, God did not, but chose to show you love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness.

In the same way God has shown you mercy and grace, you must also show that same mercy and grace towards those who are your enemy. Allow God to be the one who will strike your enemies in His time and way.

Chose to turn down the opportunity for revenge and allow God to work through you to show His love and mercy. It can change the hearts of people.

I pray today that you will know God’s love and mercy in your life; that you will show His love and mercy to your enemies; and that you will trust God to deliver you from your enemies in His way and time.