Nougat 13

Greetings all

Sincere apologies for the late submission of Today’s Holy Nougat. Thanks for the concern expressed, I am well.

1 Peter 3:9 NIV

[9] Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Bless Our Haters

I’m being real and honest when I tell you that this nougat is not easy for me to adhere to even now. Because, as one YouVersion personal reflection from the Verse of the Day suggests, we all have moments when we’re happy to see Haters get their comeuppance. Well, I am, sometimes. And while that was a reflection on 1 Corinthians 13, it remains applicable. Particularly for us believers.

Choosing against rejoicing in another’s suffering is choosing Christ’s Way. Not only because He said so, but because He did so, assuring us that it can be done. He exemplified this by making room for those outside the traditional ‘Chosen People’ to grasp our inheritance as God’s sons and daughters. Despite expectations, space was made for us, the Gospel was shared with us. Jesus did it for the centurion’s servant; He did it for Jairus when his daughter was sick; Her did it for that Canaanite woman; and He did it when Peter sliced the ear off that soldier. Yes, Jesus *chose* not to give evil for evil; but He did good.

In sharing these examples, I am reminded that it has been done by Jesus in the ‘little’ things. And if we follow suit by choosing to do good to our haters for the little things, we develop a habit of seeing things the Jesus Way. It then is a bit easier to resist the temptation to be governed by our spirit. Moreover, it boils down to Jesus’ Love command in Matthew 5:46-48; if we only do good to our friends were no different from the world.

So for me, loving and blessing the haters begins with repentance.

Lord, You see my heart. And You know I’ve not done right by You; yet You’ve chosen to love me. Please forgive me of the times unforgiving attitudes has resulted in my hating the haters. For the times when I rejoiced in another’s pain as it felt like they ‘deserved’ or earned my vengeance. What You are saying even today Lord, is that vengeance is Yours to execute, not mine. I don’t have the authority to hate or punish Your Creation. For what’s meted out to them can just as easily be meted out to me by You or any other.

Show me where I’ve continued to hold grudges dear Lord; and teach me to walk in Your Way, so I can be more like You please Jesus, amen.

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May all we seek be found in Christ