BBD 10.03.05 Let It Go
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
make this transition and during this time the old website will remain at the
current url http://www.theburningbush.org and the new website will be at the url
http://www.theburningbush.net. Both websites will remain active until the
transition is complete and new devotionals will be posted at the new and old
websites. All of the devotionals written during 2005 are available at the
new site. One of the new features is the ability to post your prayer
requests and praise reports automatically to the site.
The new website url is http://www.theburningbush.net
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The Burning Bush Devotional
1,828 New Subscribers since November 2004
10.03.05
Let It Go
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." - Romans 12:18-20.
If someone wrongs us, the Bible makes it clear that we should let God take
care of the vengeance. Not only are we to let God take care of the avenging
but we are also to be nice to our enemies. However, some people try to do
the avenging themselves and almost always, it causes problems for that
person.
Thomas Haberbush is an example of what not to do. He is a 72-year-old
retired elementary school teacher who has been holding onto a grudge for
almost 30 years. In 1977, administrators in the Saratoga Springs School
District gave him unsatisfactory work reviews but Haberbush never forgot it.
Over the last couple of years, Haberbush has been trying to get even for
those unsatisfactory work reviews. To do that he has been vandalizing the
property of former administrators, school board members, and even fellow
teachers. Some of things that he did was to put nails on their driveways,
and he threw paint on their garage doors and mailboxes. As a result,
Haberbush has been charged with stalking, criminal tampering and criminal
mischief.
We can learn several things from this. First, to return, or pay back evil
for evil will not further God's Kingdom. Second, instead of stirring up more
trouble we should try to create an atmosphere of peace. Third, we must learn
to follow God's way and example to overcome evil. You do not overcome evil
with evil. You overcome evil with good.
Contrary to what some people may say, life is rarely easy. It is hard at
times to live life in a corrupted creation with this human fleshly sin
nature. It is hard to deal with fellow human beings who also have this human
flesh. It is hard to live with spouses that are sinners. It is hard to live
with children that are sinners, and it is hard to live with parents that are
sinners. But the fact is that this is the way it is and there is little to
do about it.
The good news is that we have a great and wonderful God who can help us and
sustain us through whatever difficult thing we may encounter in life. We are
not alone. We do not have to deal with difficult people by ourselves. There
is no need to nurse a grudge for thirty years when we can receive strength
from God to forgive and go on with our lives.
When people hurt you do not try to get even, instead go to God and allow Him
to wipe away the tears and the pain. Let go of the anger and the
bitterness - then do what God would have you to do and overcome evil with
good.
Copyright © 2005. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has
been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the
Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
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