Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NIV)
When somebody does wrong to us, our gut reaction is to do wrong back to them. That is not the Jesus way. 'Vengeance is mine', says the Lord.
When we try and pay back evil with evil, we're always disproportionate. Maybe we go too easy on people. More likely, we overreact and cause a feud to develop.
Happily, the Apostle Paul gives us an alternative to a tit for tat kind of mentality. Instead, he calls us to strive to do what is good for each other, and for everyone else. 'Striving' suggests it isn't going to be easy.
We're not just to do good to the household of faith. We're to be good to everyone we come across. We might not be able to make poverty history worldwide individually, but we can make a difference where we are.
'Righteous God, please help us to wrong no-one and to bless everyone we come across. For Your glory we pray, amen'.
