Pastor’s Corner: “The High Road”
1 Peter 3:9 (TLB) – 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t snap back at those who say unkind things about you. Instead, pray for God’s help for them, for we are to be kind to others, and God will bless us for it.
Taking the “high road” is a familiar expression about doing the right thing even when it’s the difficult or unpopular thing. It’s been said that the depth of your hurt determines the width of your response. So it’s likely that when someone hurts you, your first impulse will be to get even. But any momentary satisfaction you experience will invariably be followed by a lingering sense of regret. Why is that? Because you know you’ve failed God by retaliating.
We retaliate in two ways: 1) “Tit for tat.” Before you make your offender suffer, carefully consider these words: “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone…never take revenge. Leave that to…God. Scripture say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the Lord” (Ro 12:17-19 NLT). (2) By involving others. Not only do you not have the right to strike back, you don’t have the right to tear down your offender in front of others. Joseph not only refused to punish his brothers for their betrayal, he refused to publish the details to those who worked in his courts. Why? Because he saw God’s hand at work, and realized that what he’d suffered at his brothers’ hands had made him the man he was.
Life is full of people and experiences that will let you down and test you. How you handle the difficult moments in life says a lot about you. In all of these situations, think of what Jesus would do and act like him. Here’s what I’ve learned is always true for me: When I make the mistake of taking the low road….it’s because I choose to react to the person or situation at hand….rather than respond. A reaction is always easier than a response…..but then, doing the wrong thing is usually easier than doing the right thing.
Matthew 5:43-47 (NIV) – Love for Enemies – 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Colossians 3:13 (TLB) – 13 Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Not only are we called not to react/retaliate with hate……we are called to respond to those who have hurt us, mock us and attack us with LOVE & FORGIVENESS
Christianity is all about taking the high road— it’s about loving those considered to be unlovable….fighting hate with love….helping someone in need even though your bank account is low….you get the idea. Sometimes we just have to deal with people who don’t think like us….don’t act like us….maybe don’t like us….and don’t want to be around us.
When others do not show love towards you, when they betray you, when they hurt you, show them love. It can be hard to give love when it is not returned, but when you show others love and kindness, that love will be returned to you in ways that you never thought possible. Forgiving others can be very difficult. It can be hard to both forgive and be forgiven. It is especially difficult to forgive others who are undeserving of forgiveness. When someone has hurt you in the worst way and has betrayed you, the last thing that you want to do is forgive them. In these situations think of what Jesus has done for you. Be understanding that we are all human and we all make mistakes.
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton