"Oh they are going to get it."
Have you ever had those words come across your mind? Maybe you have said them audibly? Being hurt or mistreated is never fun. It hurts. It stings. We want justice for what they did to us!
But despite the feeling that we have inside...is that the right and godly response that we need to have?
I want you to see an account of Christ and His disciples with me. Christ is headed to Jerusalem and on His journey there, he needs to split up His trip. So He makes reservations in a Samaritan village via His messengers.
This village hears that Jesus is headed to Jerusalem (the place of the Jews...those that despised the Samaritans.) and tells the messengers that they nor Jesus are welcome there. And our account picks up in Luke 9:54-56
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
The disciples were ready to fight for Christ! How dare they treat Jesus this way...let's call down fire and destroy them...it worked for Elijah!!! But notice the response of Jesus. He tells the disciples to check their spirit...because that was not the spirit of Christ.
When we want retaliation, we are in the wrong spirit.
Remember, Jesus did not come to destroy mankind...but to save it.
Is that spirit in you? Are you wanting to destroy those around you? Or are you wanting to help them...love them...show them Jesus?
It is so easy to want revenge...justice! But is that what Christ wants?
I love Jesus response here. He could have taken revenge, but He had a heart of love.
Would you be willing to hear this report and change your plans, going to another village?
Are you willing to look at the people that mistreat you and react in love? This is easier said than done...we need the heart of Jesus!
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