18) If
it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live
peaceably with all men.
19) Dearly
beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is
written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the
Lord.
20) Therefore
if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give
him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of
fire on his head.
21) Be
not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
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e
usually find our situations quite difficult when we feel that we are being
abused, misused, or taken advantage of. Rarely, are we able to overlook what we
perceive in order to see the wisdom of God.
At
some point we are going to understand and accept that we are brought to
salvation to be used in the service to God. Absolutely no one is brought to
salvation but to be of service to the Lord. If, upon examination, you find your
life lived extensively for yourself, you simply are not accomplishing your
purpose.
Obviously,
one will find it much easier to deal with things that we agree to accept.
Wouldn’t that be a perfect life? Being able to agree with
everything that happens. Of course, in reality, any problems we have are
a result of our own thinking. We decide that something is not necessary for us
and therefore, we should not be required to “put up” with it.
Sadly,
even though we are saved, we often handle ourselves as if we have no power to
change anything. Why do we find this so convenient? Because
this way, we can pin our responsibility on someone else. Particularly
when it comes to a brother or sister in the Lord, or a sinner, a favorite line
is, “I can’t make him do anything.”
When
we persist in negative, unbelieving attitudes, we are neutralized in the Holy
Ghost. Once we allow the devil to convince us that we cannot change, we will
not even try. Our unwillingness to change will affect others, also. Because
though we may know that someone else is in need of life-changing instruction,
if we are only into what we do and do not want, we will make no effort to help
them.
As
the redeemed of God, we should neither be fearful nor apprehensive of anything.
We have already been promised victory over all things pertaining to life and
godliness. Therefore, anything that comes to us after salvation is for the
purpose of our growth in the Lord. Obviously, the Lord could mean for no
challenge to overtake us.
Understanding
and accepting that “we are overcomers” allows us to
accept the inevitable: we will have tests, but we will also pass them and in
this way, be made “heaven-worthy.”
Whereas
most human beings have lived their lives feeling threatened, victimized and
inferior, accepting the truth of God frees us from all these things. Nothing
need ever again hinder us and indeed nothing will be able to hinder our growth
in the Lord but our own attitude.
Now
that we know that we are overcomers, we need to
maintain our victory. This is going to be accomplished by learning to be in
control of ourselves. The submitted life is the controlled life. But only one
willing to stay in Jesus will be victorious through Him.
Too
many saints, today, enjoy a false sense of “peace,” for they count themselves
at peace as long as no one has any controversies with them or is made
uncomfortable being with them. One who is saved is supposed to make as many
people uncomfortable as possible. When we “bite our tongue” we run the risk of
being responsible for someone going to hell. You see, our “peace” may end up
being someone else’s damnation when we hold it to spare feelings or
friendships.
It
is the love of the truth which will free one to be able to answer the call of
discipleship. It is only the love of the truth which will make us bold enough
to refuse to be moved.
As
the people of God, we fight too many “displaced” fights. All of the skirmishes
we have with the devil are unnecessary—for “we are (already) overcomers.” While it is true that evil is only overcome by
and with good, we possess the Good on the inside—Jesus Christ!