Archive for the ‘Revenge’ Category
Friday, May 10th, 2013
Revenge, May 10
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17-21, www.solascriptura.com
Jesus, we know that You personally taught Paul the wisdom that he brings to us. What a reassuring thing it is to find complete consistency between his words and Yours.
Here we learn that when we are kind and gentle in the face of someone who is angry with us, it confounds them and our kindness, undeserved, actually disarms them. We take no credit for the fruits of the Spirit manifested in our relationships and we do not seek praise from men for being patient and full of self-control.
Teach us today what it means to say, “I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me”. Help us this day to overcome evil with good. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 3395, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: anger, Christ, gentle, Jesus, patient, self-control, Spirit
Posted in Christianity, Religion, Revenge | 18 Comments »
Wednesday, April 24th, 2013
Perseverance, April 24
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.
”Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’
”And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,
’yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”
Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.
”And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
”I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Luke 18:1-9, www.solascriptura.com
Jesus, Again, You tell us to persevere and show us that even the unbelieving judge yielded to the continual pleas of the widow. Then Jesus, You teach us that if an unbelieving judge can be influenced by persistence, we can depend upon our God to listen to our cry day and night.
We see that we can not despise others and say we trust in You. We pray for fidelity and consistency. In difficult times we have no one to cry out to except You. We trust You to lead us in paths of righteousness, even in our struggles.
Jesus, You are the judge of all mankind and You ask the question, “Will You really find faith on earth?” Thank You for teaching us that positive responses are reserved for those who diligently seek You. Help us Jesus to persistently seek the will of the Father, every moment of the day. We are only able to do so because we approach our Father, wrapped in Your righteousness. We know He will not hear us if we persist in sin and then expect blessings. We pray for discernment. In Your Holy name, lead us we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: adversary, despised, elect, faith, fear, God, heart, judge, justice, parable, pray, righteous, troubles, widow
Posted in Christianity, Hope, Perseverance, Prayer, Revenge, faith | 16 Comments »
Wednesday, April 17th, 2013
Revenge, April 17
“ the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.”…
See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
Luke 9:-56, 1Thessalonians 5:15, www.solascriptura.com
Jesus, Your purpose is to unite our spirit with Your Spirit enabling us to exist in eternity with You. It is Satan that is set on bringing us down and accusing us of sin. Satan wins unless we realize that we need a new heart and a new start. You “save” us when we accept, by God’s grace, Your sacrifice on the cross as one which cleanses each of us personally.
Equip us this day to not render evil for evil. Revenge is the province of the unforgiving where they presume to judge others instead of accepting and redistributing Your forgiveness and love.
Strengthen our resolve, this day, to be Your good and faithful servants. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: evil, Luke 9:-56, pursue, renders, Revenge, save, Son of Man
Posted in Christianity, Courage, Fidelity, Perseverance, Revenge, faith | 8 Comments »
Monday, February 25th, 2013
Revenge, February 25
Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?
James 4:11-12, www.solascriptura.com
Dear Jesus, Your half-brother James, received a great deal of specific instruction from You. James understood the Law. You taught him and us that to love your neighbor as yourself was a commandment that summarized the last 6 of the 10 commandments. We can not love a person, unsaved or not, and be their judge. We would ourselves be breaking the Law.
Father, some of us are very good at following the first 4 commandments wherein we are to love You with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. Some of us are very weak in following the next 6 commandments. We are sometimes insensitive and angry toward those who we feel have wronged us, toward the mean spirited, the unlovely, the down trodden, the disobedient and those who do not appear to love You. We know that Satan’s agenda is to kill, steal and destroy and that he is the chief of all liars. Our agenda is to be like You Jesus.
If we could but see every person as someone created in Your image, it surely would effect our attitude toward them. We need much help in this situation Father. The more we love You the more we hate sin. Help us not hate the sinner but to pray for them.
Help us know, today, that You Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be our Counselor, our internal Guide and Strength. Help us show others we love You by loving them as well. They, of all people, need to seek a personal relationship with you. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302 Franklin TN 37094
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Tags: brethren, evil, judges, law, lawgiver, Revenge, save
Posted in Christianity, Law of God, Providence of God, Revenge | 22 Comments »
Wednesday, January 30th, 2013
Revenge, January 30 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ”Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:20-24,www.solascriptura.com Jesus, our objective is to be like You. We will need a lot of help not to return evil for evil. If people are critical of us, to take such criticism without angrily giving it back to them, doubly for some of us, requires Your Spirit in us. We read that when You suffered, You did not threaten those who were punishing You, unto death. Jesus, we can not relate, easily, to that circumstance. Your patient endurance of undeserved punishment resulted in each of us now being able to not receive the punishment for our transgressions that we truly deserve. Your suffering set the stage for eternal life for all those You have cleansed. You suffered for our sins that we might live righteously. Our flesh wants to retaliate; our spirit wants to be like You. Help us reflect Your countenance and heart as we experience persecution. In the Holy name of Jesus we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Christ, deceit, example, faults, God, patiently, Revenge, sin, suffered
Posted in Christianity, Courage, Fidelity, Perseverance, Revenge, faith | 39 Comments »
Thursday, January 3rd, 2013
Revenge, January 3
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;
not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
For “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.
Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit…
1 Peter 3:8-18, www.solascriptura.com
Amen and amen. We pray for more of You in our lives this day. Keep us from seeking revenge. It is such a natural reaction Father. We could never be as Jesus was when he prayed for those who killed him if it was not for the power of the Holy Spirit in us.
We marvel at the words You have given Peter, a fisherman; the one who personally defended you when you were arrested. Peter, after You were resurrected, became one of the most important men in the history of the Church. Thank You for his ministry that still guides us.
Thank You Father for not giving us what we deserve but instead welcoming us into Your midst, as you did Peter, just as if he had never sinned; justified by Jesus. Guide us this day, in the Holy name of Jesus we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: blessing, compassion, Conscience, courteous, evil, lips, love, meekness, Prayer, Revenge, reviling, tenderhearted
Posted in Christianity, Humility, Religion, Revenge | 23 Comments »
Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013
Mind of Christ, January 2
…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height–
to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-19, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we feel weak and ineffective in our witness and in the circumstances of our lives, too often. We know that if we have needs that have not been declared to You or if we set out to do something in our own strength that we are leaving out the one variable that changes everything and that is You.
You tell us that we should be strengthened with might through Your Spirit. What a gracious command. You want Your strength, Your vision, Your courage to be ours.
This day, help us grasp the fact that Your love for us surpasses knowledge, it exceeds reason, given our sinful past. We do experience perfection, at times, but it is only when we feel Your Holy presence, guiding us, challenging us and rejoicing with us. Enrich us in every way that we might be a conduit of blessings in service to You. In Your Holy name we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Christ, faith, fullness, God, hearts, love, man, mind, saints, Spirit
Posted in Christianity, God's Gift, Holy Spirit, Mind of Christ, Revenge, faith | 1 Comment »
Sunday, December 9th, 2012
Revenge, December 9
‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
It is God who avenges me, and subdues the peoples under me;
He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above.
Leviticus 19:18, Psalm 18:47-48, www.solascriptura.com
Father, it is so difficult not to seek revenge when we are offended. We instinctively react in an aggressive manner whether we know the offender or not. That Father is not Your way. You have told us not to hold a grudge about new or old offenses and to love others as ourselves. There is no way we can do that unless we are filled with Your Holy Spirit. To be like You is to forgive as we have been forgiven.
Help us today to know that You are in charge and where offenders need retribution, we do not have to be their judge. It is You that subdues the aggressor and it is You that lifts each of us up. This is one of the very difficult lessons to learn Father and we ask You today to show us Your way, Your patience, and Your kindness in the midst of trials where we are tempted to avenge. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: delivers, God, grudge, Leviticus 19:18, Lord, love, neighbor, Psalm 18:47-48, Revenge, subdues, vengeance
Posted in Christianity, Courage, Law of God, Revenge, faith | 41 Comments »
Sunday, November 25th, 2012
Revenge, November 25
Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.
In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?
Psalm 37:1-3, 56:3-4, www.solascriptura.com
Father, when we see evil people “riding high” we wonder when they will be brought down, by You, and we sometimes envy their success. We know that if they do not repent they will never enter into Your presence, but we also know that we too have experienced sin, been haughty and been overly proud.
Help us not to be envious of material things or judgmental when others achieve notoriety, claiming the victories they earned as entitlement rather than acknowledging You as the source of all that is good. Help every person proclaim You as their Savior and the source of their strength in the midst of their successes.
Father, in your economy, a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day. We know that life is very short (described as a vapor) and eternity is forever but these tiny moments exert more leverage than we sometimes acknowledge. The moments of our lives shape our eternity. That is leverage! Help us be loving and obedient, constantly, in the midst of both our triumphs and our losses.
We trust You Father, and we know that no man can take our souls from us. We belong to You now and forever. Strengthen us and help us not to envy evil or to be the judge of those we feel are against us. We pray for Your counsel, Your perspective, this day. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
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Tags: afraid, envy, evil, Father, Savior, trust, vapor
Posted in Christianity, Perseverance, Providence of God, Religion, Revenge | 3 Comments »
Thursday, November 22nd, 2012
Courage, November 22
It is time for You to act, O LORD, for they have regarded Your law as void.
Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold!
Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way.
Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.
The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
Psalm 119:126-130, www.solascriptura.com
Father, sometimes we want You to raise Your hand against the enemy of Your people, now, right now! We know You will, but we see evil conquering good, too often. Give us patience as You allow or cause events to happen on Your timetable.
We love Your commandments and because we do, we dislike evil. Help us know that evil will be dealt with and help us in the meantime to pray for the salvation of all souls.
We pray, Father, that the entrance of Your word floods our lives with light and understanding this day. Bless us as we seek to serve You, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: commandments, Courage, gold, hate, law, light, Lord, precepts, Psalms 119:126-130, simple, soul, void
Posted in Christianity, Courage, Providence of God, Revenge, faith | 2 Comments »