Monday, August 4, 2008

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: Romans 12:9-21

PSALM OF THE WEEK: Psalm 115

HYMN OF THE DAY: CH#487 “Help Us Accept Each Other” [no link available]

VERSE OF THE DAY: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21 NRSV

 

It is easy to repay evil with evil.  The world is filled with such as examples.  We humans want our revenge, our vengeance, and then some.  However, if we truly believe that God will judge everyone fairly and correctly at the end of time, showing mercy to all those who have called on the name of Christ, then we must leave that judgment, that revenge, and that vengeance, to God alone (see verse 19).  Our job here on earth to show kindness and mercy to everyone, even to (if not especially to) the evil ones, as a witness to Christ.  This goes against what our culture expects.  Sometimes, I think that even some people who claim to know Christ, don’t truly trust God’s judgment and want to make sure they get their own in first.  After the October 2006 shootings at an Amish school, web blogs were full of writings from people condemning the Amish for insisting that the gunman’s widow and family were also victims and needed to share equally in the funds given to the victims.  Many “experts” believe that the contributions were lower than they would have been if that family had been excluded. People just didn’t want to hear of forgiveness and grace at a time like that.  Yet, we are all called to leave the vengeance to God and to try to overcome evil with good.  It isn’t always easy to do, but it is always the right thing to do.

 

PRAYER: O God of Justice, help me overcome my feelings of wanting to get even, and instead to trust your justice completely.  When people hurt me, may I still be able to reach out to them in your name with love and kindness. Amen.

 

See you in Church Sunday,

Pastor Sandy

 

This email is sent only to the members of the Mid-Ohio Valley Parish Disciples of Christ and others who have requested it for the personal spiritual growth and edification of the recipient who may use it in way that will build up the church and glorify God, including forwarding it to others.  To request that your name be added or removed from this list, contact pastor@movpdoc.org.