By Gina Caswell Kelly
I send a scripture text to well over 100 people every morning. I copy and paste the scripture, but I send them individually to each one. I have some that respond daily, so I don’t want to do it as a group text. Also, if I did it as a group, I would possibly forget who all is on the list, and I pray for them as I send them. This week I sent a text that I got a lot of feedback on. Much more than usual. The scripture was 1 Thessalonians 5:15. It reads, “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.“
Why was this such a difficult verse for people? I think it is because we live in a society that wants revenge. We see people all the time trying to get back at someone for something they may or may not have done to them. I see posts quite often that say, “I am no longer going to do for people who do not do for me.” “I am no longer going to fill a cup that refuses to fill mine.” “I am no longer going to allow others to treat me bad and then get angry if I treat them the same way.” Or other words to that effect. It just mystifies me! Of course I was brought up by a man who never let us be angry with anyone! If anyone was ugly to us at school, he would just say, “Well, you know they are going through a lot of stuff right now. They knew they could be ugly to you and you would still love them. So you go back to school tomorrow and just love them like you are supposed to and pray for them.” Pretty aggravating for a 16 year old girl who just wanted to be mad! Ha!
But, what he was teaching us was so very true. We don’t repay ugly for ugly. We don’t treat others badly, no matter how they have treated us. Look at what is often referred to as the Golden Rule. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It doesn’t say one thing about doing unto others as they did unto you. It is, at its very core, saying, “Love each other with a Christlike love that does not hold grudges or keep score. Love each other as you have been loved by the Father.” And how have we been loved by the Father? With a love of grace and mercy. With a love of forgiveness and tenderness. With a love that was willing to give His only Son for us, even while we were at our very worst.
Don’t pay back wrong for wrong! Rise above that and concentrate on showing the world the love with which you have been loved! A love that surpasses all understanding. A love that will never end. A love that makes a difference!
