Kick ’em while they are down

My wife and I are both sick and feeling lousy and I mentioned it the other day in WFTD. A “friend” wrote and sarcastically told me that my little pity party was so moving that he felt sorry for me and that it was all he could do to keep from sending me flowers.

Normally I would vow to take this sucker down for trying to kick me when I’m not at full stride, but one of my goals for 2010 is to ignore my detractors and leave the vengeance to the Lord as the Bible instructs me to do. This is out of character for me and my instinct is to gouge out one of his eyes and see if he goes somewhere and has a little pity party of his own.

I think some of the toughest commands that the Lord ordains are the ones that make us go against our very natures. There are many forces in this world that we do not understand working against us and against the Gospel for that matter. We cannot possibly begin to think how to fight them other than take the advice given to us in the Bible.

We are told to do what is contrary to the fleshly nature when it comes to preserving dignity, reputation and other things in the face of personal attacks. We are ordered to be peace-makers and to turn the other cheek. God will provide many opportunities for us to make peace instead of war with our enemies and He no doubt tests us on this difficult front. Fighting our inherent nature is entirely consistent with our genuine love and pure faith in Christ. It is this spirit that can cause a hardened heart to turn towards the truth and be saved!

So our service in love and peace is not just towards our brothers and sisters it is also towards the world, particularly towards those that will be more difficult to serve: our card carrying enemies, (like my good buddy). True faith shines and causes peace to disperse amongst the people and is what being a Christian is really all about.


Naturally I would like nothing better than to bend his fingers back until he cries like a wimpy little baby. Instead I am smiling right now at his caddy remarks. (I have to admit I am vicariously thinking about the inspirational verse below and envisioning his hair turning crispy critter and catching on fire.)

I realize that I am not demonstrating a sweet spiritual nature consistent with the pure intent of this verse, but hey, it’s a start

Proverbs 25:21-22
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.