“Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord.” (Isaiah 37:14-15 NIV)
Our first reaction to an insult or injustice is often to strike back or to harbor resentment. King Hezekiah received a letter in which his leadership was mocked and God was challenged. Yet he did not react impulsively. He remained silent, went to the temple, and laid the entire situation before the Lord. God knew the circumstances as well as the intentions of the enemy, just as He sees what is done to us today.
The greatest battle is not only about what others do to us, but also about how we respond to it. The danger is that we allow ourselves to be led by anger or hasty judgment. The wisest way is to place the matter in God’s hands and trust in His justice.
Stephen and Jesus prayed for forgiveness for those who persecuted them. Persecuted Christians today also show the power found in prayer and forgiveness. The best response to injustice is to pray that the other person comes to know God, while trusting that the Lord will do justice in His own time. Our attitude toward those who do us harm often speaks more powerfully about our faith than our words.
How do you react when someone wrongs you?
The right response to injustice and aggression
The right response to injustice and aggression
“Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord.” (Isaiah 37:14-15 NIV)
Our first reaction to an insult or injustice is often to strike back or to harbor resentment. King Hezekiah received a letter in which his leadership was mocked and God was challenged. Yet he did not react impulsively. He remained silent, went to the temple, and laid the entire situation before the Lord. God knew the circumstances as well as the intentions of the enemy, just as He sees what is done to us today.
The greatest battle is not only about what others do to us, but also about how we respond to it. The danger is that we allow ourselves to be led by anger or hasty judgment. The wisest way is to place the matter in God’s hands and trust in His justice.
Stephen and Jesus prayed for forgiveness for those who persecuted them. Persecuted Christians today also show the power found in prayer and forgiveness. The best response to injustice is to pray that the other person comes to know God, while trusting that the Lord will do justice in His own time. Our attitude toward those who do us harm often speaks more powerfully about our faith than our words.
How do you react when someone wrongs you?