“The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” Prov. 28:1 Today’s Christian Daily Devotional
I am by no means a “fighter” by the dictionary definition. I, like most “girly girls” prefer to keep my nails neat and my earrings in my ears. But, something happens on the inside of me when I see an injustice. I am by no means justifying anger or rage. But there is such a thing as “holy anger” ( that is being angry over sin and the havoc it brings) and holy anger is a healthy thing. If people were to become neutral about everything, there would be no passion for any causes that would better the world. Sometimes holy anger is the fuel that lights the fire to get things done. The thing we must be careful of is how we deal with our passions. Sometimes we can let that anger consume us. By consciously making a choice not to, we can actually let that anger propel the beginning of change.
I will not ever forget the testimony of Corrie Ten Boom. Corrie and her family housed several Jewish families in their home in Germany (during Hitler’s regime). The whole family got caught and were thrown into the concentration camps. Every member died from the conditions of that horrible place. By a miracle, Corrie was the only one set free. Years after her release, she met a German soldier who fell down on his knees and begged Corrie for forgiveness. As Corrie looked at the broken soldier, she knew she had the power to ruin this man with her unforgiveness (as that would torture his already tortured soul), or she could breathe new life into his hopeless one. As she looked into his pleading eyes, the memory of her dying sister came back to her. (She had died of hypothermia from being sent out into the cold without proper clothes, and Corrie watched her take her last breath as she pressed her body against her sisters to create warmth). Her sister’s dying words were: “Forgive. Always choose to forgive just as Christ forgave us.” Corrie tried to fight back the tears and every compunction she had to crush the now frail soldier with her anger. In her heart, she could feel a war going on. She wanted so desperately to hurt the one who was a partner to the death of her entire family. But, because of her sister’s dying wish, she reached out and hugged the soldier. As she did, she felt years of hate, rage and anger get lifted off her body. Her heart leaped as if it had been jolted by a shock of electricity. The shock was: LOVE. She felt love and compassion for the very man who did not deserve it but needed it so badly. Now, more than ever, she knew why Christ did what He did. Not because He wanted to, but because HE WAS LOVE. And, in that moment she knew what pure love was all about. Pure love is loving when you can get nothing in return. And, knowing that your heart is capable of that kind of love is the richest experience.
“Dear Heavenly Father,
To be righteous takes the bravery of a lion. It is not easy to do the right thing. So many circumstances make excuses a common way out, but in the end they are just cheap justifications. To do the right thing develops character and depth that goes so much deeper than what most people want to achieve. We always seem to want the easy way out. Lord, I am asking you to help me as I challenge myself to not take the easy way out anymore. There is no good excuse to do the wrong thing. To go higher means I must challenge myself to go through some rough things. But, I am trusting that if you are telling me I should do it, you will help me TO do it. Help me. I cannot be the amazing person I dream of if continue to do things the way I have been. In Jesus’ precious name, help me to go deeper and as I do, comfort me when it hurts. Amen.”
*This devotion was inspired by my friend Joan Fierro. Thank you for your big heart, Joan! For more of THE LIGHT in this dark world go to: shalombewithyo.wpengine.comyou will ever have.