Max Lucado Daily Devotional
Max Lucado
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Vengeance is God’s. He will repay—whether ultimately on the Day of Judgment or intermediately in this life. God can discipline your abusive boss. He can bring your ex to his knees or to her senses. Forgiveness doesn’t diminish justice; it just entrusts it to God. He guarantees the right retribution. The God of justice has the precise prescription.
Forgive your enemies? That’s where you and I come in. “Do not let the sun go down on your anger,” Paul wrote, “and do not give the devil an opportunity” (Ephesians 4:26-27 NASB). Don’t give the devil territory or ground. Bitterness invites him to occupy a space in your heart, to rent a room. Believe me, he will move in and stink up the place! When it comes to forgiveness, all of us are beginners. Stay the course.
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God moves us forward by healing our past. Can he really? Can God heal this ancient hurt in my heart? Of course he can. In fact, God cares about justice more than we do. God reminds us in Romans 12:17 and 19 (TLB): “Never pay back evil for evil…never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for he has said that he will repay those who deserve it.”
We fear the evildoer will slip into the night, unknown and unpunished. Escape to Fiji and sip mai tais on the beach. Not to worry. Scripture says, “God will repay,” not God “might repay.” God will execute justice on behalf of truth and fairness. Unlike us, God never gives up on a person. Never. Fix your enemies? That’s God’s job.
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In 1882 in New York City, Joseph Richardson owned a narrow strip of land, 5 feet wide and 104 feet long. Next door was a normal-sized lot owned by a man who wanted to erect an apartment building. He offered Richardson $1,000 for his plot. But Richardson built a house—blocking the view! Dubbed the “Spite House”, Richardson spent the last fourteen years of his life in the narrow residence that seemed to fit his narrow state of mind.
Revenge builds a lonely, narrow house, space enough for one person. The lives of its tenants reduced to one goal: make someone miserable. And they do—themselves. No wonder God insists we “keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent” (Hebrews 12:15 MSG).
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Family pain is often the deepest pain because it was inflicted so early, and because it involves people who should’ve been trustworthy. You were too young to process the mistreatment. You didn’t know how to defend yourself. Besides, the perpetrators of your pain were so large. Your dad, mom, uncle, big brother—they towered over you, usually in size, always in rank. When they judged you falsely, you believed them. All this time you’ve been operating on faulty data.
Decades later these voices of defeat still echo in your subconscious. But they don’t have to! “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” These are the words from Romans 12:2 (NLT). And 1 Corinthians 13:11—let him replace childish thinking with mature truth. You are not who they said you were. You are God’s child!
Read more You'll Get Through This: Hope and Help for Turbulent Times
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God gives us more by going deeper than we ask. He wants not only your whole heart; he wants your heart whole. Why? Well hurt people, hurt people. Think about it. Why do you fly off the handle? Why do you avoid conflict? Why do you seek to please everyone? Might your tendencies have something to do with an unhealed hurt in your heart?
God wants to help you for your sake. Your family history has some sad chapters, but your history doesn’t have to be your future. The generational garbage can stop here and now. You don’t have to give your kids what your ancestors gave you. Talk to God about the scandals and scoundrels. Invite him to relive the betrayal with you. The process may take a long time—it may take a lifetime. Difficult for certain, but let God do his work.
Read more You'll Get Through This: Hope and Help for Turbulent Times
For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.