TargetPoint Volume 13 of 32
Todays Verse/Thought: Your Pound of Flesh!
Jeremiah 16:18 I will repay them double for their wickedness and their sin . . .
Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Life Implication:
Another area driven by fear is getting even . . . getting your pound of flesh! IF I DON'T PROVE I'M RIGHT, THEY MIGHT CALL ME A WIMP. Justify! We always want to JUSTIFY and DEFEND ourselves in order to make ourselves look good. We FEAR being viewed as less . . . less than smart, less than this or that.
God says we are to WALK IN FORGIVENESS. That's a lifestyle! Unforgiveness actually negatively affects our health! Studies have shown this to be true.
A U.S. author once characterized a litigant (someone who sues another) as a person about to give up his skin for the hope of retaining his bones. Now, when you think about it, getting your pound of flesh, as opposed to letting God deal with those who have hurt you, as my wife, Cindy says, THAT'S A NO-BRAINER! For, as our verses clearly speak, God will repay double. Who's hands would you rather your adversary fall into, yours or the hands of the living God?
Of course, I fully agree that there are times when we need and should appreciate our court system. But, let's not be quick to go there. Will Rogers, the renown humorist, once said: People are getting smarter nowadays; they are letting lawyers, instead of their conscience, be their guide. But, as Christians we are called to be a counterculture. We are called to bring our conscience before the Lord God, and let Him deal with us and with others. My wife puts it so well: We live in an invisible kingdom within a kingdom.
Life Application:
There's a well-known saying: Love is never having to say you're sorry. But, I would like to give you the Christian counterculture rendition of that saying: REAL LOVE IS FORGIVING OTHERS from your heart, just as Christ has forgiven you. True forgiveness is AGREEING TO LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES of another person's sin, and making a choice and a decision to forgive.
So, with that in mind, BRING THOSE HURTS AND THE EMOTIONAL PAIN of specific situations and relationships TO GOD IN PRAYER. Allow Him to point out areas where you need to forgive. Allow Him to take care of those debts against you. MAKE A LIST of those people who have hurt and offended you and then pray for each one of them on a regular basis. Then watch what God does with YOUR heart . . .
Tomorrow In TargetPoint:
Are You a Man-Pleaser or a God-Pleaser?