I Had Every Right To...

 

"Weak people get revenge, strong people 

forgive, and intelligent people ignore."

~Albert Einstein"

    Do these sound familiar?

        "Did you get your license over the phone?"

        "So (sarcastically), great use of your turn signal"

        "Hey go ahead and take your half out of the middle."

        "*#!?*"

I know - I've never heard/said them either (wink wink).  We may have every right to question people's driving abilities because it can be incredibly dangerous.  We carry precious cargo in our cars with our family.  If people are in a hurry they should leave early and plan on traffic.  And weather (as we all know living in Denver) can add scarier dynamics so people should just slow down.

But what if someone is distracted because they just got bad news or experienced a life-altering event?  What if their boss or spouse just yelled at them for no reason?  What if...?

Whatever the reason, while no one can hear what we're shouting in our car if we're riding alone, an angry response definitely can alter our mood.  And if someone happens to be riding with us, they are privy to a darker side of our personality.  

There are so many instances where we are wronged and would like to see immediate retribution inflicted.  Road rage, unfair relationships, grueling health issues, mean people, just to name a few.

But then there's Jesus.

The Old Testament prophesied about Him-

"He was despised and rejected- a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.  

We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way.  He was despised, and 

we did not care.  

"Yet it was our weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrows 

that weighed Him down.  And we thought His troubles were a punishment 

from God, a punishment for His own sins!

But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole.

He was whipped so we could be healed.

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.

"He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet He never said a word.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, 

He did not open His mouth.

Unjustly condemned, He was led away." Isaiah 53:3-8

The New Testament's Gospel of Matthew (27:11-56) tells how He fulfilled that prophecy-

He had no sin, but took on our sin so we could spend eternity with God.

He said nothing when He was mocked, ridiculed, on trial because of false accusations against Him, even though He could have called down armies of angels to defend Him.

He made no response when He knew He would be scourged and crucified, because He trusted in God's plan for mankind's redemption. 

When life enrages you, resist retaliation.  Give it over to Jesus. We have a Savior who understands us.  

✙ Dear Heavenly Father, sometimes, life makes us really mad.  And we know You know.  You grieve over the impact of sin in our world, the presence of anger, hatred, desire for retaliation.  But that's not Your way, and You want us to follow You.  Help us to be humble, forgiving, peaceful people in a hostile world.  Enlarge our ministry and place joy in our hearts each day, through all circumstances.  Thank You that we don't have to do it alone.  Amen.