Topic: No Retaliation – Higher Every Day by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi | Date: Monday, April 30, 2018.
Scripture: “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men” (Romans 12:17).
Retaliation is revenging or harming an offender. Such expressions as.Tit for tat.””Pay him back in his own coin” or “Do me and I do you; are hate language of retaliation. In Brazil, two men tattooed ‘I am a thief’ on the forehead of a boy who was accused of stealing a bike, which he denied. Retaliation multiplies offences and increases ungodliness. Esau’s retaliation against Jacob who deceitfully stole his birthright kept the generation of their children on centuries of war even after Esau and Jacob embraced peace after twenty years of initial separation.
The result was that God wiped out the generation of Esau (Edomites) because of their violence against the descendants of Israel (Obadiah I:10). Retaliation is condemned in its entirety in the New Testament. Jesus prayed to God to forgive His killers at the point of death. Stephen was stoned to death for preaching the gospel of Jesus but while he was dying he prayed for their forgiveness (Acts 7:60). A Christian youth leaves vengeance to God. Offences are bound to come from friends and foes but the believer forbears to react violently.
Challenge: Forgive your offenders for Christ’s sake.
Prayer: My God , give me grace to forgive and forget in Jesus name.
Quote: A Christian youth leaves vengeance to God
Bible Reading in one Year: Genesis 45 : 3 – 8
