By Brother Jeff Hizon
How do you handle unfair treatment? What is it really? It is mostly when you say “I do not deserve this! I am a good person. Why are they persecuting me? Why are they doing this to me? I am not doing anything to them!” This can happen in all walks of life, in almost all scenarios. I am sure it has happened to you.
SCRIPTURE:
Romans 12:17-19
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”
Do not take revenge on people who have done you wrong. Make sure you are doing the right thing in front of everyone because people are looking at you. Do you want to make them wander if you are a Christian? You are believers of Jesus Christ. Anything you do with your life reflects what you believe in. You may perceive it as judgement on your part but your actions really are louder than your words. Only you can control yourself. You have the power to live peacefully with everyone. What everyone else does in not under your control. Lastly, the Bible says vengeance is the Lord’s. And when God says it, you know that He will do it.
The Old Testament proves this point more. Proverbs 20:22 says, “Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.” Deuteronomy 32:34-35 says ““Have I not kept this in reserve and sealed it in my vaults? It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.” God knows the pain in your heart and it is all in His hands. Sometimes, you ask God to take care of it. But you wait for something bad to happen to that person, sometimes thinking about it in your head until it consumes you. You wait for God to take vengeance, but God will do it in his perfect time, not yours. Proverbs 24:29 also says, “Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me; I’ll pay them back for what they did.” Who has not said this to themselves? I will do to them what they did to me. They will get hurt as much as I was! But in God’s perfect time, He will show you that He is sovereign. He will make Himself known. You will know that Jesus has always been there for you the whole time. 1 Peter 2:18 says, “Servants be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle but also to those who are harsh.” This is for everyone. It is very easy to obey people who are good and gentle and easy to respect. But this verse says otherwise. But if your master is harsh, what are you to do? Verse 19-20 says, “For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.” This is what is pleasing to God. If you are experiencing unjust suffering consciously for God, He is very pleased with you. But if you suffer because you did wrong and you endured it, that is not commendable to God.
1 Peter 2:21 says “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” Your calling is to do the will of God, and if you suffer by doing the will of God, then that suffering is something to be joyful about. Just like Christ suffered for you, giving you an example that you should follow inHis steps.
This is very good news for, that Jesus Christ was given as an example for you to follow in His steps. When you read the Bible, it might be difficult to follow the words. But when you see the example of Jesus Christ, you will know what God wants you to do.
Let us see how Jesus took no offense and did nothing in spite of being accused and persecuted by the people around Him.
Do not repay evil with evil. - Mark 15:3-5 says, “The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.” But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.” In this scenario, Jesus is being accused of so many things that He did not do. Pilate is used to holding court with criminals around him, trying to defend themselves from their wrongdoings. But Jesus Christ, innocent of everything He is accused of, kept quiet. And that amazed Pilate.
He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. - 1 Peter 2:22-23 says, “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” Jesus committed no sin and no lie came out of His mouth still, everyone around Him hurled insults, threw stones and said bad things about Him. Yet when He suffered, He made no threats. It could have been very easy for Jesus to say, “God, I do not want this anymore. Send a flood, send your angels and finish all of them off.” He could have made that happen but He did not do anything. Why? Because Jesus entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly, and that is God the Father. God has a plan for everyone and He will surely vindicate Him.
He forgave them. - Luke 23:24 says, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” He said this while He was nailed on the cross. How did Jesus do this? Not repaying evil from evil and entrusting Himself to God? That is the forgiveness that Jesus gave. He gave His life so that we can have an eternal one.
How was Jesus able to endure all of that pain? Not seeking revenge and even forgiving all of His persecutors? LOVE. Jesus loved all of us that He was willing to give His life for us, laying His life down on the cross. John 15:12 says, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” God only asks us to love. The greatest commandment is to love God above all, with all your heart and soul. But the second greatest one is to love your neighbor as yourself. Remember this one word, love, covers all sin and all loss. You will be able to forgive, not repay evil with evil because you have the love of Jesus Christ. This is how you will be freed from the bondage of Satan.