Doing It God's Way

There comes many times in all of our lives when we want to take matters into our own hands.  We have been crossed by all of the right people and the scars are still felt.  When we think about the situations and circumstances, we still feel ourselves getting tense or even  swelling up with tears.  But the Word of God is extremely clear in Romans 12: 17-21(NIV):

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 

20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

It is no longer about tit for tat.  If someone cuts your tires, you don't get to cut theirs.  The scripture says that if it is possible, live at peace with everyone.  The key there is "if it is possible".  God understands that everyone is not going to want to live in peace with you and they will make it their point to cause trouble with you and for you.  Those people are not supposed to be in your personal space and you are not to give your time to them.  The Word of God reminds us that we will know them by their fruit and we have to pay attention to that.  If they are producing things that do not want to give God the glory AND they do not want to yield to proper instruction, then we are to leave them alone.  Otherwise, they can provoke us to act outside of God's will and that is something that we will have to answer for.  

But then God throws something in there to really test us, Verse 20 gives us instructions on meeting the needs of our enemies.  OUR ENEMIES!  But even in that we are to use wisdom.  If your enemy is in need of shelter, it doesn't mean that you have to let them into your home and put yourself and your household in danger.  However, you can pay for them a hotel.  In all things we are still to use Godly wisdom and initiate Godly love.  By exercising Godly wisdom and love, we don't have to worry about any type of evil taking us over.  Not in our emotions, behaviors, nor thought life.  For the Word of God says that, "Greater Is He That Is Us Than He That Is In The World".  Understand  that Jesus was not a punk and he was not stupid.  He spent hours with the Heavenly Father and because of that Jesus was prepared for every situation and person that He encountered.  Even those that claimed to have a better education than He did.  He was still able to shut down their foolishness and their trickery with the wisdom and love that came from the Heavenly Father.  Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray Him, but Jesus did not treat Judas any different than the other disciples.  He followed the instructions of the Heavenly Father.  Why is that important you ask?  Because many of us hold on to people when God says to let go and we let go of people that God says to hold on to. We tend to work opposite of what God is saying and trying to do in our lives. 

We must get in sync with the Heavenly Father and that way we can really see the scripture, "All things work together for the good of them that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose" come alive and real in our lives.  This is not to say that things will not happen and that there will not be tragedy in our lives.  But there must be the mindset to do everything God's way as this is how Jesus was able to overcome every obstacle that crossed His path.

Blessings and Love,

Pastor Nichica Melton

Prayer:  Dear Lord, I come before you with a humble heart and spirit.  I need your help and your guidance because I tend to make decisions that take me in the wrong direction and lead me to the wrong people. There are many times that I do not realize this until it feels like it is too late and I am in way too deep.  So God I welcome your instruction, your wisdom, and your love in my life and in the inner most parts of my being.  I yield my tongue to you so that I can speak THE truth which is your Word.  I yield my ears to you so that I can hear you when you speak.  I yield my mind to you so that I can understand all that you are instructing me to do.  I yield my heart to you so that I will  have the desire to obey all that you command for me to do without any argument or hesitation.  I love you Lord and I realize that you love me.  Help me daily to do things your way.  In Jesus name, Amen!