Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do
what is right in the eyes of everybody. Rom.
12.17
Even now, with the consciousness I have
of the “right” way to behave as a Christian and the growing desire to live to
please and delight God, I still react inappropriately in some situations. I
think of yesterday’s drive when a foolishly ambitious driver cut in on me at
the last minute. We narrowly missed colliding, and I expressed my displeasure
with a sudden, sharp use of the horn. I think my blood pressure was elevated
for a little while afterward.
This was, perhaps, a minor event, but it
illustrates how careful I need to be if I want to live as He would have me
live. There could be other, more serious, happenings – situations that might
contain varying degrees of evil. I might well be tempted to counter evil with
evil, and even contemplate a response of increased evil. This is simply not on!
Oh dear, I have quite a way to journey yet!
How, then, should I respond? Paul
encourages me to carefully do what is right in the eyes of everybody. I believe
I need to be careful here, for what may appear right, or acceptable, to some
may not be morally the best thing to do or, indeed, the honouring action or
word. I think I’ll look on my response as what is right in God’s eyes. He has
everyone’s wellbeing at heart, and I will not go wrong if I seek to do right by
Him. I note also Paul’s counsel to “be careful”. This tells me to act with care
– to show care in my reaction and response for those concerned. What a contrast
this makes to the more usual human behaviour!
Lord
God,
I
apologise for those times when I don’t react or respond in the right way. I ask
Your forgiveness, and I pray for guidance and for God-given caution when a
situation arises where I’m likely to respond inappropriately. Remind me,
please, of the right way to be. Thank You.
Amen.
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