Morning by Morning, August 21 - Trading Our Vengeance for His Victory Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my heart and my thoughts in every step and every moment of my day. ... “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to with; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19). “Be angry, and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your wrath” (Ephesians 4:26). As The Message Version expresses this Verse: “Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry -- but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the devil that kind of foothold in your life” (Ephesians 4:26 MSG). My heart still breaks, and if I would let it, my anger still flares, for our brothers and sisters in Pakistan whose churches were burned down, whose homes were plundered, whose belonging were dragged out and trashed in the streets after rumors of two persons’ act of blasphemy were blared from loudspeakers by some to stir up violence and vengeance. But I see that this time arrests are being made and investigations are being pursued -- not only against those accused of the blasphemy but also against those who moved in violent mobs to pursue vengeance against whole communities in their own hands. You are a God of justice. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face” (Psalm 89:14). So whether in Pakistan or in our own nations and our own hearts, our part is not to take justice into our own hands, but entrust justice to Yours. For our true battles are not “against flesh and blood,” no matter how violent or wicked their actions, but “against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Our part is to pray first and then to stand up and speak out as Your Holy Spirit leads until there is a shifting in the spiritual realm and reformation in the earthly realm. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds...” (2 Corinthians 10:4). By the grace of God, let justice be done. Let righteousness reign. Let a breakthrough of mercy and love, with mountain-moving compassion that crosses religious boundaries, that stands up and speaks out for neighbors and fellow citizens regardless of culture or theology, burst forth like a mighty river in a vengeance-driven desert. “For love will cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). And “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8). Your Word reminds us what You require of each of us: “He has shown you, O man, what is good: And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). We are to “do justly.” And at the same time, we are to “love mercy.” How do we do both? How do we pursue justice and yet extend mercy? Only by choosing in the power of Your grace “to walk humbly with (our) God.” When we do, we are trusting You are moving in ways we don’t always see, You are with us in ways we don’t always know, You are even shifting things in the spiritual realm and setting up things in the earthly realm we don’t always realize. Because You are a God of Love (1 John 4:8); and at the same time, You are also a God of Justice (Psalm 89:14). So in faith and obedience, we entrust all vengeance to You and trust in the victory of the cross through the Sacrifice of Your Love (Colossians 1:20). While all of us were yet sinners, You died for all of us on a cross that You could live in us through Your Spirit (Romans 5:8 and 8:9). And now it is Your passionate desire that as we entrust all our injustices, grievances, desires for vengeance and violence to You, You would set us free “from the dominion of darkness” and deliver us “into the Kingdom of (Your) beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13). That’s the only Kingdom where we can experience both justice and mercy, when we humble ourselves to walk with our God and trust in our God to set things right -- first in our hearts and then in our world (Revelation 21:21). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today. In the love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you be moved by the Holy Spirit as you walking humbly with your God, trusting Him to give you grace to both do justly and love mercy, trading all vengeance for His victory, in Jesus' name. God bless you, my friend! And you have a great day!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries Mailing Address: 412 S. Adams Street #148 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
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