Be Still (Unfair Treatment) Your Reaction Pt 5 - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) November 25, 2022

For the last 3 weeks we've looked at how we react when we are treated badly. We've considered how fearfulness keeps us from obeying God's instruction to "be still" and let Him handle those who've been unfair or even wicked to us.

Praise the Lord for He has repeatedly promised to defend those who have been afflicted (Psalm 9:18). He has declared "Vengeance is Mine" in Romans 12:19 and because He cannot lie (Titus 1:2), we can trust that He will deal with all oppressors. We need simply wait. Don't believe that will ever happen? Well, the Bible says different in several places including Psalm 91:8 - You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

This begs the question of how to react when we witness God's punishment at play in the lives of the wicked.

Once again, The Bible tells us how we are to behave and it might not be what you expect. Proverbs 24:17-18 - Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them. In addition, Jesus commanded us to love one another (John 13:34). Therefore, gloating and taunting those who are experiencing God's judgment is not what we are to do as believers.

Instead, we are to always walk in reverent fear of the Lord. When, not if, we witness God's judgment against the wicked, our job is to thank Him. Not to gloat. Moses and his sister, Miriam, provide an example of how we are to behave. In Exodus 15, the way they reacted to the downfall of Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea was to sing in praise and worship to God. This is not to say that they weren't happy to see their pursuers destroyed. However, in that moment of great victory, they trained their gaze on the Lord and not what happened to the enemy.

Hebrews 10:31 tells us It is a fearful and terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God [incurring His judgment and wrath] (AMP). Hence, when believers see the wicked receive the results of their hard work, they must be careful to react as the Lord instructed. Each of us must never forget that if not for God's grace, Him rescuing us from sin, and bringing us into His righteousness, we could equally experience the judgment awaiting the wicked.

So, when you see someone get their 'just desserts', please don't say, "That's what they get" or abuse them in your thoughts or words. Just rejoice in God for being just and mighty. Praise Him for who He is.

Thank You Father for Your grace and mercy upon us. Thank You for redeeming us and sending Jesus Christ to reconcile us to Yourself. Thank You for it is this blessing, this privilege, that we need not fear the sudden disaster and ruin that befalls the wicked (Proverbs 3:25). Help us to also love others. To You be all the glory and the praise, IJMN, Amen.

See you at Noon EST for fellowship.

(PS: I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving 2022.)

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Be Still (Unfair Treatment) Your Reaction Pt 5 - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) November 25, 2022

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