Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

– Romans 12:17

Thoughts on Today’s Verse…

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” “A taste of your own medicine.” “If you’re not kind, I won’t be just!” In my opinion, these viewpoints of handling matters are rational and reasonable, and blameless. I think it’s just for me to harm one or get back at him if he hurts me. When I shared duty with a sister, since I was inferior to her in both caliber and skills, I always asked for her advice in service. At first, the sister could explain to me patiently, but gradually she gave me the cold-shoulder, looked down upon me and had no patience with me. I felt either my face or self-respect was hurt, so I had prejudices against the sister and thought she had no loving heart, nor tolerance or patience. I even wanted to blacken and judge her before others, and make others know she hurt me and was a person of bad humanity, so that others would offer me sympathy and stay away from her. As soon as this evil intention appeared to my mind, I came before God and prayed, “May God stop me from sinning with my lips.”

After the prayer, I calmed down and read a passage of God’s words. It says, “They hurt you, and this type of action of theirs is the expression of a corrupt satanic nature. But if you take revenge on them, isn’t that exactly the same as what they did? Your thinking, your starting point, the source of taking revenge—isn’t that the same as theirs? (Yes.) Then doesn’t that, by its very nature, come from hot blood? (Yes.) It comes from naturalness, from hot blood, from Satan.” These words made me understand a lot. In my eyes, I was just to take revenge on others; while in God’s eyes, my motive came from evil, and was of Satan, and God would be disgusted. I hate those who has done harm to me, and vice versa. I too would hate myself. Then I prayed, “Oh God, I don’t want to do things according to my satanic disposition. I want to stand testimony for You and live out the likeness of a real man to satisfy Your heart and shame Satan. May You give me the resolve and courage to practice the truth, so that I won’t hate others or take revenge on others.” I felt peaceful and steadfast after the prayer, and no longer hated or wanted to get back at the sister. Amen!