DEVOTION

Theme: Resist Reprisal

Text: Obadiah 1:10-16

10 “For violence against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. 11 In the day that you stood on the other side—In the day that strangers carried captive his forces, when foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem—Even you were as one of them.

12 “But you should not have gazed on the day of your brother in the day of his captivity; Nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; Nor should you have spoken proudly in the day of distress. 13 You should not have entered the gate of My people in the day of their calamity. Indeed, you should not have gazed on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity. 14 You should not have stood at the crossroads to cut off those among them who escaped; Nor should you have delivered up those among them who remained in the day of distress.

15 “For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head. 16 For as you drank on My holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink continually; Yes, they shall drink, and swallow, and they shall be as though they had never been.

In a world full of wickedness, where others usurp, afflict pain, rape, assault, abuse, molest, betray, deceive, murder and do all kinds of ugly things towards others, the victims often become like their predators sometimes. Reprisals have become so common in the world, but as a child of God, that shouldn't be part of you. Its unchristian to retaliate or avenge. The Lord said vengeance is His and He will repay all evildoers so leave them in God's hands (Romans 12:17-21).

Do not be happy when evil befalls those that hurt you. Rather intercede for them and as you do that, God will help you. Edom (descendants of Esau) looked on whilst other nations attacked Israel: keep in mind the Israelites are the descendants of the Supplanter who stole Esau's birthright.

Don't add up to the pain of your adversaries, Edom did evil by looting Israel and even killing those who tried to escape from their enemies. Dear beloved in the Lord, never teach or lead your children into rivalry. If you have an issue with someone, don't plant evil schemes in the heart of your children towards your adversaries. Those innocent children instead of obtaining mercy will end up serving jail terms or punishment which would have been the portion of your enemies because they took the law into their own hands.

Nurture your children with godly principles so that, they'll find favour with God. Resist the yoke of reprisal, let love flow from your heart all times. Make time and study 1 Corinthians 13 and ask the Holy Spirit to help you out of every form of bitterness so you can show love to even your enemies.

Prayer: Dear God, I apologize for the time I should have shown love to my fellow humans but I took to reprisals. Forgive me of this sin. Heal me from within and let the Holy Spirit teach me Your ways. Help me to make peace with all and never to avenge any wrong done me. In Jesus' name have I prayed. AMEN!