Saturday, April 05, 2008

VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY, SAYS THE LORD
...trusting God even when it hurts



The Marks of the True Christian
Romans 12:9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

10 comments:

Carla Rolfe said...

When it hurts is the hardest time to trust Him, and one of the hardest lessons to learn - in setting aside our own desires and leaving room for His plan.

Sometimes life's events are so extreme it makes it easy to forget that God's will is even more extreme.

SJ Camp said...

Amen.

Thank you friend.
Steve

Psalm 94

Alice said...

In keeping with these verses, it would be great if people could pray for Todd and Angie Smith (Todd is part of the group Selah) today. Angie will be delivering their daughter who has severe birth defects and is not expected to live this afternoon at 4 (Nashville area). This couple's faith and trust in God in the darkest season of their life is such an encouragement (if interested, you can read their story at http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/). Sorry to take up space on your blog, Steve, if this isn't the appropriate place to put it, but the verses you posted and Carla's comment really hit home.

SJ Camp said...

Alice
This is our joy here to do so. Part of the ministry of this blog should be to pray for people in their times of need.

I go through trials too. And how comforting to have others within the body of Christ pray for us during those times.

Thank you for sharing this prayer request and may the Lord be glorified in this situation.

In His grace,
Steve
Col. 1:9-14

gigantor1231 said...

SJ

If you have not visited the afore mentioned blog, you better! Be prepared to have your hear touched. Wish I could find a woman like that for my three girls and I, a woman who knows what it is about because she has allowed God's discipline and hardships to train her. Jesus is all I need, He is who we all need!!!

Unknown said...

Alice :
I’ll join you in prayer for this situation today.

Campi :
I feasted on Psalm 94 last night. Another powerful passage! Full of reassurance and comfort.....thank you.

Detoured By Travel said...

Steve - I'm OVERWHELMED by God's awesome timing here.

For over three years now, I have been going through a lawsuit stemming from the purported actions of a company where I was a minority LLC member and an employee. My former employer refused to defend me and I have spent more than a year's salary during the time I have funded my own defense.

At every twist and turn I was accused through depositions, complaints, and pleadings and given little or no chance to defend myself in front of a jury while the case went through discovery...we were about to go to a trial next month (finally) and on the VERY DAY this message is blogged a miraculous settlement between all the parties took place.

I honestly do not have any bitterness against my (false) accusers or my former employers...I do know for certain that the Judge of all the earth will do right. And I not forgotten Keith Green's tract that taught me to "Forgive or Forget It."

But I do know that God's Spirit has undergirded me through this extremely trying time for my family. May He whose Name is above every Name receive praise and honor fovevermore.

For anyone else who may be reading this and be going through a trial (legal, physical, spiritual, emotional, or otherwise) or tax testing/trial, stand solely upon God, rest only in Him, trust completely in Him. He ALONE can be your salvation and your shield. But you have to let Him be those things...don't try to CONTROL it yourself.

Thanks again for your sensitivity to His Spirit.

Debbie said...

I, too, read Psalm 94 this morning … Steve, thank you for noting it. It’s filled with wonderful reminders of the constancy of His thought and care for us especially when, even as Detoured has affirmed, we go through circumstances that are not of our own making or choosing.

Alice, I’m really saddened to hear about this family’s unimaginable grief but comforted to know that through prayer we can lift them to our heavenly Father today … at each bend in the road, they won’t be alone.

Verse 19: “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Thy consolations delight my soul.” -- real solace for overwhelming anxiety.

I’m really touched by this post and these comments today and encouraged to trust Him more completely.

Alice said...

Just an update on Todd & Angie Smith--their beautiful little Audrey Caroline was born at 4:30 this afternoon. Her family got to spend a couple of hours loving on her. She passed away at 6:45 p.m. this evening. Thank you to everyone who prayed and continues to pray. I think it's no coincidence that a song Selah (Todd Smith's group) always does in concert is the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul."

"Lord, haste the day when the faith becomes sight!"

gigantor1231 said...

Alice

Appreciate you placing that information here for us to share! Since I lost my wife to cancer in 02 I have tremendous empathy for those who are dealing with death, even as a 47 year old 'tough guy' I come to tears. I also am so thankful that we have that hope that we will all be together with Jesus one day and He will take us to those we miss.... what a great thing to have!