Resist the Urge to Respond to Evil with Evil

This is our B moment. Our moment to be still…to be fed by the Word of God…to be grateful.

Scripture reference: Matthew 25:40 (ESV)

Transcription:

Today I am out the studio, but I am encouraging you to resist the urge to respond to evil with evil.

Recently we talked about how Jesus asks us to pray for the happiness of those who curse us. At its face value, it can be very difficult to pray for the happiness of another who is intentionally trying to harm you.

When I turn to the Scriptures, I think about David’s relationship with Saul. Saul became jealous of David when he realized that God had chosen David to replace him as king. Saul was not only trying to harm David, but he tried to kill him on several occasions. However, David chose not to respond to evil with evil.

After Saul’s death, David inquired about Saul’s surviving family members. During these times, it was common to kill the heirs of former monarchs, so David could have killed all of Saul’s surviving relatives. Yet instead, he chose to invite Saul’s crippled and neglected grandson to live with him in the palace.

The key is that your response to evil is far less about them than it is about Him. As you celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King today, let us celebrate the fact that he was also a man who mastered how to resist the urge to respond to evil with evil. No matter how weary he became, likely feeling he couldn’t take one more drop of disappointment or pain, he demonstrated love and nonviolence toward all who afflicted him.

As you celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King today, hold onto these words:

“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40 (ESV)

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So today, resist that urge.