No one has leverage against Him. You may say, “How do I do that? You trust Christ because He is altogether worthy of your trust. It just means that you no longer allow them to take up so much space in your life. How can His hell on the cross remove our everlasting destruction?”  The weight of our sin is measured by the One we offended. “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord” (1:9). Such a god cannot help you, because he or she has no existence apart from you. What could He accomplish by dying that He could not accomplish by living? But idols in our times are more sophisticated. They are not metal, they are mental. Please also opt me in for Exclusive Offers from Beliefnet’s Partners, From time to time you will also receive Special Offers from our partners. Pray that God will bless this person. We hammer out our own ideas of who we think God is and what we want him to be like in our own mind. This is a powerful response in such a difficult time. God simply tells us to pray for them. What happens? Suppose some years later, the very same boy is in a crowd waiting to see the President of the United States. What if God is love, and you are running from Him? Here is what the Scripture says: God is just. Christ stopped him in his tracks with a blinding light and an audible voice, “Saul, Saul why do you persecute me!” (Acts 9:4). Perhaps, he’s called you to stay put in a place you don’t want to. When you are addressing the hurts committed against you, it also might be a good time to address those that you have hurt. Author Unknown Short Quotes; Never hold onto a hurt, because resentment tears you up. Your sins are forgiven for His sake(1 John 2:12). When one of David’s generals asked permission to take off his head, David responded, leave Shimei alone, perhaps God has told him to curse me (2 Samuel 16:5-4). We can do something different because it is special, or we can do what we normally do and say, “This is who we are.”. Yet He tells His disciples repeatedly that He came to die. During his three years of ministry Jesus did so much good—healing the sick, feeding the hungry, proclaiming the greatest teaching that this world has ever heard. Sign up for Beliefnet's Your Health and Happiness newsletter. Love her? One of the best things we can do for those who hurt us is pray for them. God wants us to trust Him regarding our relationships with others. Here are 3 Reasons You Should Let God Deal With Your Enemies: 1. In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you. This will happen when Jesus Christ is revealed. You can leave it to Him. How? A god who is shaped by you will die with you. When people hurt you, sometimes it’s easier to just walk away and don’t look back. He will punish through everlasting destruction and those who are so punished will be shut out from the presence of the Lord, forever. We saw last week that this letter was written to encourage Christians who were being persecuted (1:4). They will lie and say all kinds of evil things about you because you follow me. Beliefnet is a lifestyle website providing feature editorial content around the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news and entertainment. Then you will see the full measure of My love.”  So, use this to sustain your faith in a suffering world. “This Week at Unlocking the Bible” features new articles, radio programs, devotionals, and ministry updates, Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical…, Staying the Course (When You're Tired of the Battle). He always acts with justice. If you do not believe this, you will always be trying to even the score. When someone hurts you, your immediate and natural instinct will be to want to hurt them back. What we do here week-by-week is take a passage of the Bible and place ourselves under it. I know myself. There are times when we will allow ourselves to endure unnecessary pain in relationships because we believe it’s our duty or because it brings us to a place of meekness that honors Christ. You can have absolute confidence that no one will be punished for a sin he or she did not commit. This violent man was transformed. Last summer, long before we knew the date of this public launch, we planned to listen to God through 2 Thessalonians, and the verses that were read were set for today! (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7), When the Scripture was read, you may have thought, “This is a strange message for a weekend when we are welcoming large numbers of first- time visitors at the public launch of a new campus.”  You may have wondered, “Is he really going to speak on these verses from the Bible?”, I have to tell you, I had the same question. If you are around people for very long, you will end up hurt by someone. What if God is, without us? Many times we are not in a place to force the other person to stop their hurtful behavior. Vengeance is God’s Business. In the following verses, Jesus gives several specific examples of how to treat those who have hurt you, and He concludes with, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). People who do good often suffer and people who do evil often prosper. As I said earlier, the beginning of change is calling a thing by its right name. It is good news, not only for all of us here today, but for every person in this community. When David was fleeing for his life because his son Absalom was leading a rebellion, a man named Shimei came out and cursed David and threw stones at him. Pray that God will help you to love this person. Subscribe to become a Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast Insider and get access to bonus content, journal prompts and more! In every case the crime is precisely the same, but the severity of the crime is measured by the one against whom it is committed. If someone were to ask you to make a list of all of the people that hurt you, you can probably write out a number of people who have caused you pain. God will deal with this. “It is to always be dying and never to die.” [1] You may say, “Wait a minute. On the cross, Christ was punished for our sins. If your feelings are hurt, heal those of another. Nothing is hidden from Him. You don’t have to worry about your enemies. No matter how hard or strong we claim to be, the actions of others can sometimes hurt us to our core. Saul the persecutor became Paul the Apostle. That means you can have confidence in the absolute justice of God. When we know that we are not our own, we also recognize that things will show up in our lives that are completely outside of our control. Disobey the Gospel and you enter into darkness in which there is no light… A night in which no morning dawns” [2]. James Denny says it like this…, “Obey the Gospel and you enter into light in which there is no darkness. What happens? God says, “I am who I am. Every Christian is a recipient of the mercy of God—a full and free forgiveness, gained by Christ's undergoing the punishment for our sins, in our place, on Calvary's cross. Instead of being consumed with the hurt, you focus on God, the One who can heal the hurt, and give you the power to respond in a radically new way. Jesus said, “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). If you have suffered at the hands of other people, or if someone you love has suffered as these Christians did, you will face with this great question: “How can I really believe that God is a loving God and God is a just God when so often good people suffer and those who do evil prosper?”. Mary left it in the hands of Christ. It is on this foundation that God says, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. Begin thinking about God as Jesus. Such a god cannot help you, because he or she has no existence apart from you. But if they just go on, with no awareness of what they have done, or worse, if they continue doing the same thing, it is very hard to have compassion. God says He will handle them on your behalf. However, if you realize that God is a best friend that stands beside you when others cast stones you will never be afraid, never feel worthless and never feel alone.” – Shannon Alder. Bitterness cannot survive for long when you begin to pray. Bible College and Multnomah Biblical Seminary. You could spend your whole life shaping a god to your own liking—a god who loves what you love, a god who says what you want to hear and a god who calls you to live as you are already living. 33. This is the Gospel by which we are saved and by which all who come to the Lord will be saved. It’s very possible that if a person is always hurting you, Jesus is not at the center of your relationship with them and that’s not healthy for your physical, emotional, mental or spiritual well-being. But God says to let Him take care of it. Persecution is always a terrible thing. Read. Write in a journal, pray or use guided meditation — or talk with a person you've found to be wise and compassionate, such as a spiritual leader, a mental health provider, or an impartial loved one or friend. Just as God extended mercy and compassion to His rebellious people—you are expected to extend kindness, mercy, and compassion to those who hurt you. Painful words and violent tempers can create traps in your life that God may not be calling you to be part of. The justice of God will often not be obvious in this world. So if you don't have a friend, be a friend. Our sin offends almighty God, but in Christ He had mercy upon us. “God is just. Were you hurt because your sin was exposed? God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. You have a PROMISE from God Almighty that He will PUNISH (repay) the evildoer. English Standard Version. The closer you become with the Scripture, the more God will speak to you about the relationships you’re in. Turn to Him in repentance, believe in His Son Jesus Christ, and follow Him. When you seek God more when it comes to your relationships, you may also begin giving less of yourself to people addicted to gossip and slander because being in that space is not only not uplifting, but also doesn’t reflect Christ. You can read the quote (and this entire commentary) online: http://www.studylight.org/com/mhc-com/view.cgi?book=2th&chapter=001, [2] James Denney, “The Epistles to the Thessalonians,” p. 300, General Books, LLC, 2010, http://www.amazon.com/Epistles-Thessalonians-James-Denney/dp/0217799124/, "This Week at Unlocking the Bible" features new articles, radio programs, devotionals, and ministry updates. But keep reading the Bible, even if for just a few minutes each day. Jesus Christ came into the world because there is a future catastrophe that you need saving from. The justice of God is a central truth in the Bible. You must also avoid the temptation of withholding your goodness from those who hurt you. Once you understand what happened on the cross, you will say, “I must respond to this good news today!”  What does it mean to obey the Gospel? David protects himself from sinning by trusting God and assuming that God’s plan is beyond his understanding. That’s why so many people have come to see Christianity as a projection of human thought. Resource Library Browse the Proverbs 31 archives for free content resources. He has been in pastoral ministry since 1988.Pastor Duke specializes in healing hurting churches and bringing revival, renewal, and restoration of the presence of God to the body of Christ in America to make the church spiritual again.Pastor Duke has a few limited dates available to speak in other churches. Just as a god who is shaped by me will die with me. It would be very easy to come to the Bible, picking the bits that we like, and ignoring anything that makes us feel uncomfortable. Pastor Duke Taber is an alumnus of L.I.F.E. But when they do, you will be happy. God says to suffering believers, “There is a day coming when Jesus Christ will be revealed. Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version. Pray, pray, pray about your relationships! (3) God intends to use mistreatments for our good. We can turn to the Bible for answers to this question. A faithful partner can help you deal with the issue! But what if God was, before us? Ask yourself if the relationships you’re in really reflect God. What if God is not dependent on us, but we are dependent on Him? That person may not deserve your forgiveness, but we don’t deserve God’s forgiveness. Right there in the dust, this man repents and believes. God is with us even in our darkest hour. This means that you have a God-given RIGHT to EXPECT to be avenged of your enemies (those who have hurt you). To God's people, I say in the strongest possible terms: Beware of those who make light of sin, who trivialize holiness, who throw a wet blanket on the fires of conviction, who minimize repentance, and who brand others "legalistic" and "religious" because of their devotion to the Lord. And I need to hear what God has to say, especially when it makes me feel uncomfortable. We would always be comforted, but we would never actually be changed. Perhaps, he’s called you to serve in a difficult spot. They brought you down, and you find a certain pleasure in bringing them down. Isaiah says, “The punishment that brought us peace was on Him” (53:5). He can show you how strong he is even while you are going thru your hurt. I am not whoever you want me to be.”  He speaks to us in this book so that you may find Him and know Him and enjoy Him forever. Pray before you go to visit/chat with a friend, pray during your visit and pray afterward. How are we supposed to stand up under it?”  This is the kind of thing the people in Thessalonica were experiencing and this letter was written to give the answer. Listen . This doctrine helps. He died as a sacrifice, and in the great love and mercy of God, our sins were laid on Him. At the end of the day, what use is a god who was designed by you? He entered hell so that you would never know what it is like. It’s important that we apply godly wisdom to all relationships we’re in. God never acts out of vindictiveness. Daily Devotions Daily, biblical encouragement to help you filter everyday life through the truth of God’s Word. The combination of these two words is terrifying, but the meaning is clear—this is a destruction without end. That is the heart of the Gospel. Suppose on the way home, the same boy punches a policeman on the nose. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. I wanted Him to deal to him big time! We would always be affirmed, but never challenged. I’m pretty sure God is telling us something. No one intimidates Him. Power and wealth count for nothing with Him. What happens? 7 Steps to Healing the Hurt By Sandra D. Wilson New Life Ministries. We have a direct PROMISE from God that He WILL AVENGE US of those who have hurt and wronged us. Suppose a middle school student punches another student in class. “They will be punished with everlasting destruction” (1:9). The conflict that’s going on in your soul is a fight against Me!”. 3 Ways to Bless Those Who Have Hurt Us 1. People did t... Read verse in New Century Version Eternity hangs on this. As the President passes by, the boy lunges forward to punch the President. And what if God always will be, despite us? You may not want to forgive, but God commands us to forgive. In ancient times, idols were made from wood, stone or metal. Love one another…” (John 13:34-35, 15:12) Then he … “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” 2 Thessalonians 1:8, We are given two descriptions of this punishment…. How can any sin deserve everlasting destruction? The Best Way To Deal With Those Who Hurt You In Devotions, Inspiration by Kristen Dalton Wolfe “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:28 This is a hard teaching to swallow. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you. But such a god is only a projection of you. Nick Vujicic, Life Without Limits Blessed; Hurting back the people who hurt you, makes you just like them. The Bible has a word for our own ideas about God—it is “idolatry.”  In ancient times, idols were made from wood, stone or metal. Saul of Tarsus was the terror of the early church. This is the Gospel that we believe and that we proclaim. How is that possible?”. That is what He is saying to us through His words to us today. If you grasp this most difficult of doctrines, and place yourself under this truth, God will use it to soften your heart today. We will never sell or misuse your information. Breathing fire and slaughter, he was on his way to Damascus on a campaign of violence. So, what did he feel as he wrote this? People have one of two reactions when their feelings get hurt: they deal with it before the Lord, or they destroy others. I use the word surrender because it best describes our act of handing over to God something that truly belongs to Him—the right to hurt back. Answer: Everlasting destruction. Thank you for your generous support during our year-end campaign! The temptation will be to avoid God’s word. We know from Scripture that we are not our own, so regardless of how much we might love someone, including those who have hurt us, we must shift our interaction with them because our Lord tells us to. Maybe there are some people in the church you have hurt, and you need to get it cleared up. Sometimes we don’t want to work things out and be like Jesus and forgive. This is one of the hardest truths in the Bible. He did so much good in three years of ministry. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth." Some people may try to tough it out and will pretend the words or actions of others don’t effect them, but the truth of the matter is… sometimes they do! What happens? I had to do this. We want to listen to the Bible in such a way that our thinking, feeling, choosing, believing and behaving are shaped by the Word of God. Our best relationships are the ones that have Jesus at the center of them. There’s a real relationship here in which you trust that He is the Son of God. Take your eyes off of the hurt and the person, put your gaze on Christ. 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