DO TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT?
When people hurt us, lie to us, talk bad about us, we always feel justified in paying them back for their wrong doings. We may think, if they did it to me, I’m doing it back to them…. “ I’m going to give them a taste of their own medicine.” Let’s see how they like it when it’s being done to them. My question is: Is this the way that Christians should think and act when someone hurts us? Or, Do we trust God in every area of our life, no matter how painful the trials might be?
You may ask; what should I do when someone hurts me? Let me tell you what the word of the Living God says:
“DO NOT" repay evil with evil OR insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, “ Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” ( 1 Peter 3: 9-12) - NIV
Note: It’s not up to us to pay people back or to teach them lessons. That’s for God to do, because He is “ The Righteous Judge Of All The Earth.” (Genesis 18:25) We can’t continue to say “ I love you, Lord ” but when someone hurts us, we throw His teaching out the window, and we do this by our actions! Jesus said, “ A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34) We are commanded by the Living God to "Love One Another"… And this command does not depend on whether people are deserving of this love or not. Not one of us deserves God’s love, grace and mercy in our lives. And yet the Lord showers us with His amazing love, mercy and grace each and everyday! By renewing our minds daily in the word of God we will know how to act in any given situation in our lives (Romans 12:2). My friends, we must be doers of the Word of God and not just hearers. (James 1:22)
The Bible says:
“ …But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “ He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” (Watch This… Don’t Miss It!) When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him (GOD) who judges justly." (1 Peter 2:20-23)
The Lord Jesus experienced betrayal, envy, and disciples deserting Him. He was filled with The Holy Sprit and yet some said He had a demon. Jesus Christ was misunderstood, He was lied about, and in the end, He endured the pain and shame of the cross… Just think of all the things the Lord had to endure to save the souls of mankind…By His actions, Jesus is showing us that two wrongs do not ever make a right!! We must learn to trust God in every area of our lives, even in OUR painful times. (John 13:21, Mark 15:9, John 6:66, John 8:48, John 8:14, Matthew 26:59-60 and Matthew 27: 27-44)
The Apostle Peter asked the Lord Jesus this question:
“ … “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “ I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18: 21-22) - NKJV
Note: Is this our question also, how many times shall I forgive those who offend me and hurt me? The Answer is: According to our Lord and Savior, seventy times seven we must forgive all those who sins against us (which means, in layman’s terms, many times). “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. FORGIVE as the Lord forgave you.”(Colossians 3:13)
I’m not saying that it’s easy to forgive people who have hurt us and wounded us, but it is a lot easier to forgive those who hurt us when we have Jesus by our side… He understands what we’re feeling and what we are going through because He has suffered much of the same things also! Jesus is the only one that can heal us from the inside out! In the book of Hebrews it says: (Jesus Christ is)… Our merciful and faithful high priest… “ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:17-18) The Bible says: "CAST ALL" your anxiety on
him because HE CARES FOR YOU." (1 Peter 5:7)
Jesus says:
“ If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:32-36)
Note: Some of you may say… So should I let those who hurt me get away with what they have done to me? And act as if nothing has happened? Forgiveness is the only way to release that hurt and pain from our hearts and souls. Forgiveness is not for the other person. It is for YOU! The Healing from the pain and hurt won’t begin… Until we learn to let go and forgive. We already know that the word of the Lord says: “ 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.” (Romans 12:19) So no one gets away with anything… What goes around comes back around, believe me! The Word of the Lord says: “ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) A MAN REAPS WHAT HE SOWS.” (Galatians 6:7)
So again, my friends, it is not up to us to take matters into our own hands… That’s for our God to do. And that’s according to Romans 12:19. If we truly love the Lord like we say we do… Then let’s remember what Jesus said: “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15) We can all be better and loving towards one another, if we live each day by the ‘Golden Rule’… “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)
The Bible says, …“GOD IS LOVE. Whoever lives "IN LOVE" lives in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:16)
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS,
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
