Most of all it does not worship God unless His Spirit enables it. Our upbringing helps us cover up our natural inclinations, but if we’ve given our lives to Jesus, we know how we were before we met Him. Salvation reversed the tide for us, but still, the seeds of corruption are always available for cultivation.
Most of us want to do good and to behave respectfully and kindly towards others. But we invariably encounter those who seem to have no conscience about themselves and even seem to enjoy their selfish wills. When we are wronged by them, we are left standing with nothing but the gospel to guide our response. Will we let it?
“He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” (Luke 6:35)
Of all the people in this world, Jesus was treated most unjustly. Perfect innocence was ravaged by the utterly corrupt. What was His response? He stood for Truth and suffered the consequences. But He never retaliated or fought. Never. And He calls us to be like Him.
How do we respond when we are wronged? Are we appalled at the evil in others’ hearts? We Can’t Afford To Be; the same seeds are within us. Do we retaliate in like manner? We violate the command of Jesus if we do, and we sink to their level. Do we seethe with resentment toward them? Again, we disobey Jesus if we do, and our attitude harms only ourselves.
What then is the appropriate response? Jesus tells us to love our enemies, even to do good to them and lend to them. This, of course, grates on our old nature and attacks our pride. But this is exactly what He did with us, and His heart’s desire is for us to be like Him. Will we? Let’s see our injustice as a chance to prove His gospel. Let’s be kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Have a blessed weekend. Make it better by worshiping The LORD with those who know that if it wasn’t for the redemptive kindness of God their lives would have been destroyed by their own selfishness.
All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.
Vic Alvarado 