Corona Devo 648

Have you ever had the "perfect comeback" to zing someone...but held your tongue?

Have you ever been in position to "nail someone" (physically, verbally, or emotionally)...and yet refrained from doing so?

Have you ever been betrayed by someone close to you or hurt by someone who should have loved you, and had the opportunity to settle the score...but instead sealed your lips?

David, a man seeking to live-for and serve the Lord had the perfect opportunity to "get even" with King Saul (who was trying to kill him), but in Godly restraint (and example), he did not retaliate.

After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi. (2) So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats.

(3) At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave!

(4) “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.

(5) But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. (6) He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” (7) So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul.

After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, (8) David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.

(9) Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? (10) This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the Lord’s anointed one.’ (11) Look...at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me...

(16) When David had finished speaking, Saul...began to cry. (17) And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. (18) Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it. (19) Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today"...  ~I Samuel 24:1-11, 16-19

Most times, living in the image of God doesn't mean getting the last word, justifying ourselves, or avenging how we have been mistreated or wronged.

In fact, it is difficult to find an example of Jesus Christ ever doing any of these things.

And Jesus was slandered, misunderstood, accused of blashepming God, tortured and killed at the hands of people who misunderstood both Him and His love for them. Jesus knew what it was like to be treated unfairly, to be misunderstood-in-intention, and to have his feelings/heart and body hurt by others, yet he never said a word.

(3) He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.  We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.  He was despised, and we did not care.

(5) But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed.

(7) He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word.  He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.  And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.

(8) He was humiliated and received no justice…    

(9) He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone.  But he was buried like a criminal…  ~Isaiah 53:3, 5, 7-9

Some of the last words Jesus said on the cross (and His last living example to us before He died for us) were not "I'll get even...", or "I hope you get what you deserve...". Instead, one of the last phrases He spoke to a watching world, to those opposing Him, and to our hearts today was, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Jesus lived and died in truth, humility and love.

One-upping, getting even, winning-the-argument, showing-them-who's-boss, and getting-the-final-say is not the example Jesus-set for us. Humility, peace, and truth-in-love is.

So today, and in the coming days as we approach people and conversations, may we imitate Jesus, and those like Him, including David.

If we have the "perfect comeback" to zing someone...let's hold our tongue in Christ's example and His love. If we are in the position to "nail someone" (physically, verbally, or emotionally)...let's hold back from doing so in Christ's example and His love. If we have been betrayed or hurt by someone and we have the opportunity to settle the score, let's not in Christ's example and His love.

Blessings, 

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com