Throughout the scriptures, God’s people are to remind themselves that whenever they are facing a hardship, they are not alone. Oh, it is true that our Lord knows everything that is going on and He will never forsake us (Heb. 13:5), that’s not the aspect I want to talk about. The fact that we are not alone, has to do with idea that whatever we face, others face hardships too.

In I Peter 5:9, the inspired writer stated, “Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”  It might seem that when we are having to endure all kinds of difficulties, our brothers and sisters face the same things. They may not be exactly the same, but hardships come in all kinds of shapes and sizes.

Knowing all of this, does it really help Christians to know this? Does it really provide strength? The answer is yes. There is comfort knowing that we are not alone and that others are having to deal with things too. It is foolish to think, “Nobody knows the troubles I have.” I may not know the specifics, but we can be confident to know that when it comes to things that will test our faith, it is “common to man” (I Cor. 10:13).

We really don’t have to look any farther than Jesus Himself. The reason He is a great example is because He was tempted in all ways just like we are (Heb. 4:15). Again, yes we are talking about the Lord, but think this through. Since Jesus was tempted like everyone, then would not everyone be tempted like one another? Of course they would. Also, if Jesus gave us an example to help us overcome, cannot saints strive to provide the same example for each other? Again, yes!

The next time you go to church services, take a moment and look around at all your brothers and sisters. You can be sure that each and every one of them has some sort of suffering going on in their lives. Knowing that to be true, look, they are there serving the Lord, just as you are. Now doesn’t that give you strength and encouragement? It should. Reason being, they are to thinking the same thing about you.

Chuck

How can you not?

The brethren at Rome were told to “repay no one evil for evil,” (Rom. 12:17). How should Christians react when someone commits an evil against us? If someone breaks into our home, are we to let them ransack the place and hurt us? What is this verse teaching?

The key to understanding this verse is to focus on the word evil. If someone does something evil to us, we are not going to do the same to them. However, let us not confuse evil with that which is lawful. As an example: God said, in times past, if someone murders another, then the murderer is to be put to death (Num. 35:16). Is this two evils? The answer is no. One is an evil, and it was called murder. The other was not a murder, it was justice.

What about Christians though? It is not wrong to call 911 or subdue an intruder. Repaying evil for evil would be to lose control and “take the law into our own hands.” It would be wanting to harm the person in retribution. It is not evil to demand justice, and we need to recognize the difference in order to understand our own relationship with our heavenly Father. Those who think a punishment is the same as the crime do not understand what evil is.

Consider what Jesus did not do while hanging on the cross. “When He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten…” (I Pet. 2:23). Our Lord did not stoop to the level of his foes. He kept His composure and prayed for them. This does not mean their evil was overlooked though. Note that the apostles told those who crucified Jesus to repent (Acts 2:36-38).

Obviously, a desire for earthly justice can overflow and become sinful.  Regardless of what happens on the earth, we must remember that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Rom. 12:19). We must remember that having the approval of our brethren is not the same as having God’s approval. The only way to please God is to walk by faith (Heb. 11:6). Beware of repaying evil for evil.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Chuck