Striking Back

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.

And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. Luke 22:50-51

Jesus and the disciples had been in the garden praying. Judas had left and got the high priest to arrest Jesus. As the high priest and some soldiers came to arrest Jesus, one of the disciples draws his sword and cuts off the ear of a servant. Jesus stops him heals the servant’s ear.

When a person is getting arrested, it is very common to see him fight back and resist the arrest. People do not want to get arrested. In the process of resisting the arrest, often it can get very violent. Often innocent bystanders are the ones who get hurt the most.

People will fight arrest even more when they are innocent of doing anything wrong.

They will even fight for someone else who is innocent and getting arrested. Jesus had been completely innocent and one of the disciples decided to fight for Him. However, that was not the way Jesus wanted things to go. He was willing to be arrested.

In fact, He needed to be arrested. Getting arrested was a part of God’s plan to have Jesus crucified, which was a part of God’s plan to bring salvation to the world.

There are times when believers today are falsely dealt with. In many countries they are arrested, while in some countries, they are not arrested but are dealt with in a bad manner.

Each time something occurs, a believer must choose what to do. He must be in tune with what God is doing and what God wants him to do. Jesus knew that He had to be arrested, so there was no reason to fight back. He did not show violence, but love and care.

When someone falsely accuses you or treats you wrong because of your belief in Jesus, what will you do?

If you are like the world, you will fight back with violence and a vengeance.

Acting like Jesus, you will go forward and love the enemy and do good to them. You will not show violence to defend yourself. Be willing to accept what God has placed in your path, instead of fighting back. Fight with love and care, not violence, it does no good.

I pray today that you will know God’s love for all enemies; that you will know God’s plan for your life; that you will accept all God puts in your path; and that you will be a witness for Jesus in every situation.