Posted on 07/20/2021 12:09:51 AM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee” (Proverbs 20:22).
Verse 20:9 said, “I have made my heart clean,” and this verse says, “I will recompense evil.” Do you know what man’s attitude claims sometimes? “I am God!” “I’ve got it going here, and I’ve straightened myself out, and I can take care of my own situation, and I have defeated my enemies, I am the master of my fate, and the captain of my soul!” No, you’re not. It only takes an honest look in the mirror to know that is true. We are just hunks of flesh susceptible to the mortician.
The fact that there is a broad road that leads to destruction is proof that most men are only interested in what they can do to obtain acceptance by God. They expect that God has to accept their terms and be satisfied with the best they can do. If they would only be honest and compare their “righteousness” with that of the perfect Son of God, Jesus Christ, they would understand how that bargain will never do. God only has one standard, and that is perfection. And it is only God that can make provision for the salvation of a man’s soul. Man needs to read, heed, and understand God’s evaluation of them: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).
Here is the best advice anyone can get “wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.”
First, as to the area of salvation, we need to understand God’s perspective toward us: “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:7-11).
If unsaved, we are the enemies of God. If saved through His Son, we are reconciled and are now the friends of God.
As to human conflicts in life, God tells us how to handle that also.
“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 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. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:17-21).
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Amen.
Thanks for posting.
Great post, we need to be reminded so often so that we do not lose sight of how easily the world can blur our sight and place us right back onto the wrong path. Seems that the simple things can be the most difficult in regards to seeking Gods grace.
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