- 3440 West 13th St.
Wichita, KS 67203 - © 2009 Olivet Baptist Church,
all rights reserved.
This morning I went out to the Burb (my suburban that’s what I call it), I noticed my middle console lid open. At first it didn’t click what had happened and I loaded everything I needed for work today. Strangely the doors were unlocked. Then I got in and sat down. Stuff was missing. I noticed my Ipod radio transmitter was gone, the power inverter for long trips was gone, and my phone charger was gone. It all came at once–anger and hatred. I was robbed man! Almost immediately I started planning how and what I would do to the thief(vies) when I caught him(them). Right out side of my own house! AGH!!! All I can say is that I had visions of a late night stakeout, a gun, and a phone call to police after I released my anger upon their miserable bodies. (I also had a bat in there as well.) My mind ran wild with thoughts of revenge. Then I realized that I could have avoided this, I guess it was my fault for not locking the Burb up. In all the hustle and bustle of unloading the groceries I didn’t get it done.
It is an awful thing to be robbed. Truth be known, this has happen to me before. Right out in office parking at our church facility I was robbed there too. That time they got my Ipod as well.
I am still fuming as I write this post.
(Take a deep breath.) Nevertheless, here I have before me an opportunity to practice what I preach. Thanks for the opportunity you dirty rotten thief! (Still trying to let go of my anger.)
1 Peter 3:9 says
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
Romans 12:19-21 states,
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Well… what am I to do? Scripture has plenty more to say about seeking out revenge and it unvaryingly always says that we are to suffer the injustice and leave it to God to respond in our stead. I don’t like that too much when it happens to me. Relate? I often think that my case is an exception or is one of those things that God is not really talking about. Surely Lord theft is not one of those instances. I am the one in the right who has been wronged! I am justified to act. This issue is complex no doubt especially when you consider much more sinister crimes than petty theft. Like what about reasons for war? At what point do you stop letting yourself be steam rolled?
Here’s the deal though with that line of thinking: who am I trusting to do the right thing? We do want and need justice–I believe this is apart of what God stamped His image into us. Nevertheless, we get our flesh involved every time and what happens then is not pretty. Often the line between victim and criminal becomes blurred. However, when I run to God with my complaint and with the grace of Jesus act in a way that is totally unnatural, God gets the glory and I get the blessing.
I probably will never get the opportunity to “bless” the thief who robbed me, but here is an opportunity for God to change my life to make me more like Jesus.
1 Peter 2:23
When he [Jesus] was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
By: Tim Dodge
