Father They Don't Know

Scripture Text: Luke 23: 32-38

We may have heard the saying ‘Revenge is sweet’. Is it really? Revenge may a natural and satisfying thing to execute on those who have hurt us, but unfortunately, it would boomerang and hurt us even more. Taking revenge is a little like chemotherapy. It serves to destroy the cancer cells (in our instance, the anger, hurts that we go through as a result of the injustice against us), but it also destroys our good cells as the treatment can be indiscreet. As a result, some of us end up more hurt than we were originally.

What then is the correct treatment? Let’s examine what Jesus did when He hung on the Cross.

LOOK IN-DEPTH BECAUSE IT HELPS TO LET GO

HE FORGAVE. How was He able to do this? Jesus looked beyond the situation. He knew that what they had done was against God and God alone was to take vengeance. (Romans 12:19) He is my vengeance and He is my advocate. He will collect this debt of sin against me. So, if He chose to let go – so should I. I have to learn to depend on Him and know He will make it right. If God has chosen to forgive an unrepentant sinner, and has forgiven me of my sins against Him, I have to learn to forgive myself and others as well.

Hence, if a person hurts me the next time, am I able to look to the CROSS and beyond the situation?

LOOK IN-DEPTH BECAUSE IT HELPS YOU FIND THE VALUE HE SEES

When Jesus saw the people who mocked Him, He saw them as children of God who were ignorant of the situation. They were worth a great deal in His eyes because they were made from the image of God and were bought with a sacrifice (the blood of Jesus.)

When I see a person – how do I see him? I pray that I will learn to value him as God sees and values each and every person.

LOOK IN-DEPTH BECAUSE IT HELPS YOU TO SEE THE ROOT

Jesus looked beyond the sin and saw that the people needed redemption (salvation) from their blindness.They mocked Him as Satan did in the wilderness when he tempted Jesus – they became Satan’s tools.
The key to solving issues in counseling is to identify and deal with the root of the problem.

Prayer Response

Dear Lord,
Thank you for your great love for me. Thank you for teaching me that I should let go and let You deal with any situation I am in. Help me to forgive my enemies as You have forgiven me. Teach me to see and value people as You see them. Search me O Lord and let me know the root of my problem and deal with it. Amen.

Devotional based on message by Rev Joel Yong