Romans 12:20-21
Our Scriptures tell us that if
you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty,
get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t
let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
In May 2012, 18-year-old
Takunda Mavima lost control of his vehicle and crashed into an off-ramp
while driving home from a party after his high school graduation in
Wyoming, Michigan. Two passengers...15-year-old Krysta Howell and
17-year-old Tim See...were both killed.
Mavima's blood alcohol
level was reported to be 0.10 at the time of the accident. He pled
guilty to all charges and received a sentence of between 30 months and
15 years in prison.
Tim See's father and sister both addressed the court. According to an article on the Huffington Post
website*, Lauren See told the judge..."I am begging you to let Takunda
make something of himself in the real world -- don't send him to prison
and get hard and bitter, that boy has learned his lesson a thousand
times over and he'll never make the same mistake again."
We’ve
read and heard about other situations similar to this one...instances
where something tragic happened, and the family members and/or friends
of the victims were more than generous with forgiveness toward those who
caused this. We’ve seen men who were falsely accused and imprisoned for
rape and murder hug their accusers and forgive them. We’ve seen
mothers embrace drunk drivers and forgive them for accidents that killed
their children. And we marvel at how – and why – they can find it in
their hearts to do this!
I hope you are never faced with such a
situation. But here’s the thing...there are plenty of circumstances
where we are offended, mistreated, disrespected, lied to and deceived,
betrayed, or otherwise insulted. We have choices...we can retaliate...we
can treat the person with cold indifference, at best – or downright
rudeness and disdain. Or, we can continue to show the person kindness,
and operate in grace and mercy. We can “take the high road”...treat the
person better than he/she deserves...and let God use our generosity to
reveal Himself.
Will our actions and attitudes change things?
Maybe...but maybe not! It really doesn’t matter. You don’t do this to
“teach the person a lesson” or because you are such a wonderful, special
person. No...we treat others in this manner because this is how we
overcome evil. This is how WE win instead of the devil! This is how we
say, “Because God grants me grace and mercy that I don’t deserve, I
should do this for others to His glory.” Any “revelation” or
“reformation” in the other person is an added bonus...and totally up to
God to produce.
There are times in our lives where the LAST thing
in the world we want to do is to be kind to someone who has wronged us
in some manner. But this is when it means the most! Ask God to give you
His strength and wisdom...and to allow His grace and mercy to flow
through you as you interact with others...even those who are something
of “the enemy”. Be prepared to surprise others with your
generosity...and God might surprise YOU in the process!
©2014 Debbie Robus
* http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/14/takunda-mavima_n_1882492.html
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