Tuesday 8 January 2008

Bless them

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” - Romans 12v14

A few days ago I mentioned Christian discussion boards. One of the things that is most troublesome about to me about these sites is the way Christians treat each other. There, as I real life, it takes the slightest thing to set someone off. Then there is retaliation and then a mean spirited response. The next thing you know you can’t even tell that these are Christians discussing an issue.

Sadly the church far too often has the same revenge mindset that the world does. “He can’t treat me that way!” So we respond in anger and with a vengeance. There are reasons why we are reminded not to “bite and devour one another”

God’s way is totally different. He goes far beyond someone who disagrees with us or does something mean to us and says, “Bless those who persecute you.” Even when people are purposefully attacking us we are to respond with a blessing. We have no right to respond to their attacks and provocation. Except with a blessing.

“Bless and do not cure.” That’s tough, I would rather retaliate, but that is not God’s way.

When we are attacked for who we are and what we are doing, may we examine our hearts to make sure that we are right with God, then bless our accusers.

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