What's In Our View

"God is honorable."

VIOLENCE NEVER solves violence. Not in human things. One man’s retribution never makes peace. And not in spiritual things. The warlike image of a Christian, spattered in blood and guts as he swings his sword at devils is beyond wrong. Jesus’ death destroyed the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). His DEATH. He laid down His life, trusting the Father to raise Him up again and then, in that moment, without fanfare or adoring crowds, He returned to life. He is a most humble King, and we should imitate Him.

The problem is our feelings get in the way. We’re frustrated and angry, and so we lash out. Or we’re tired and sad and we give up. We must know what to do when our emotions are what’s in our view. Realizing they are wrong, right then, is the first revelation. Looking at other people, we know this. They were angry and so they did some awful thing, and we shake our head. Tsk-tsk. But when it’s personal, we justify it. That is the behavior of devils. There is no truth in them. No one would traffic in devils if they knew God’s Truth. My point? I see this behavior in people.

Not to imply they are possessed or oppressed with an unclean spirit. But the behavior is the same. And the behavior of sinful man described in Romans 1:18-32 equally applies to devils. It’s the same thing. We should never act that way.

“They are unreasonable, irrational, mean-spirited, hard-hearted, and they trust no one. Although they know God’s righteous law—to love others before oneself—and realize their lifestyle leads only to death, they not only persist in their self-destructive ways, but throw parties and give awards to others who practice them.” (Romans 1:31-32, Remedy)

God is honorable. He sent Jesus to earth as a man in order to return honor to us. Because of His sacrifice and His victory over death, because He returned to life again, we can live holy lives. This means we think like God, we see people and situations through His eyes, and we react like Him – in love and mercy and compassion. Anger and violence, strife and hatred, the ugliness of a man without God, are no longer who we are. They are as far from us as the east is from the west. Even greater, when we see them in others what fills our hearts is love and compassion and a heart of gentleness. We control our behavior through the power of the Spirit, who lives inside us.

He is the most self-controlled. He has the most restraint because He is able to do anything but refuses to do what He’s given us the choice to do. He always works in our favor but our refusal to listen or inability to hear causes Him to be silent. He can shout, can be the earthquake, but prefers to whisper and us to lean in. We know these things but don’t really KNOW them. We don’t really KNOW HIM when our behavior goes against His Word. We are meant to hold conversation with God, to speak and hear His reply. We are meant to live the will of heaven on the earth (Matthew 6:10). These were Jesus’ words in what is called “The Lord’s Prayer.” We bring heaven into the atmosphere around us, never walking without God, under our own cognizance, but always lead of the Spirit who knows the way in front of us and how to navigate around it in peace and success.

“Separated from me, you have no power to do anything.” (John 15:5, Knox)

“So, this is what I am saying to you. Live by the power that God’s Spirit gives. And let him lead you. Then you will not do any wrong things that, as a human person, you may sometimes want to do.” (Galatians 5:16, EasyEnglish)

“We live by God’s Spirit. So, we must obey God’s Spirit and we must let him lead us.” (Galatians 5:25, EasyEnglish)

Facing the cross, Jesus was at peace. He said this (John 14:27). Being tried by Pilate in front of the crowd, He was at peace, and Pilate marveled. “Don’t you have anything to say?” Hanging on the cross, He quoted the Scripture that they would have known and should have recognized as being that moment in time (Matthew 27:46), then spoke forgiveness for the multitude and promised a convicted criminal Paradise (Luke 23:43). He did not return violence for violence, nor does He condone it today in modern times. It looks nothing like Him, and this should draw us upright.

“For the entire Law has been obeyed when you have kept the single precept, which says, »You are to love your fellow man equally with yourself.« But if you are perpetually snarling and snapping at one another, beware lest you are destroyed by one another.” (Galatians 5:14-15 WMTH)

“Let us not become vain-glorious, challenging one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:26 WMTH)


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com