Love the doer, not necessarily the deed done
Psalm 99:8
O Lord, our God, you answered them indeed; you were a God who forgave them, yet punished them for their evil deeds.
Parents and their kids; wives and husbands; partners; siblings; co-workers.
There's always a bit a friction that can occur when something goes amiss. People can get rubbed the wrong way. We can choose to forgive the offender or choose to set up a chain reaction of resentment and retaliation. We have the choice. Situations pop up on a daily basis which demand that a choice be made.
When reading through this line in Psalm 99 I am reminded of two things: 1)God makes the distinction between who we are and what we do (human beings are notorious for failing to make that distinction) and 2)judgement of the individual, what has been done and the consequences of the action(s) of that individual are not within my jurisdiction.
When I set myself up to punish someone for the ill they have done to me.... I become the one who is punished. If I chose to sever relations with someone, who loses something?? I do! If I chose to cherish the hurt dealt to me years ago, never letting the weight of it go - nay, even ADDING to its weight with the passing years by piling on pity, anger, spite, crushed pride - who loses? I do!
God help me in this.... that even if I am hurt by the evil done to me I will not compound that evil with hatred. Check out the 10 Commandments or the 2 "Christian" commandments- neither one states "Thou shalt hate" or "Thou shalt punish".
Our baptismal covenant calls us to be better human beings - striving to model our lives after that of Jesus Christ. And if we fall short of that goal to dust ourselves off, ask for forgiveness, and get back on track.
Punishment? Sorry, it's not in the job description.
O Lord, our God, you answered them indeed; you were a God who forgave them, yet punished them for their evil deeds.
Parents and their kids; wives and husbands; partners; siblings; co-workers.
There's always a bit a friction that can occur when something goes amiss. People can get rubbed the wrong way. We can choose to forgive the offender or choose to set up a chain reaction of resentment and retaliation. We have the choice. Situations pop up on a daily basis which demand that a choice be made.
When reading through this line in Psalm 99 I am reminded of two things: 1)God makes the distinction between who we are and what we do (human beings are notorious for failing to make that distinction) and 2)judgement of the individual, what has been done and the consequences of the action(s) of that individual are not within my jurisdiction.
When I set myself up to punish someone for the ill they have done to me.... I become the one who is punished. If I chose to sever relations with someone, who loses something?? I do! If I chose to cherish the hurt dealt to me years ago, never letting the weight of it go - nay, even ADDING to its weight with the passing years by piling on pity, anger, spite, crushed pride - who loses? I do!
God help me in this.... that even if I am hurt by the evil done to me I will not compound that evil with hatred. Check out the 10 Commandments or the 2 "Christian" commandments- neither one states "Thou shalt hate" or "Thou shalt punish".
Our baptismal covenant calls us to be better human beings - striving to model our lives after that of Jesus Christ. And if we fall short of that goal to dust ourselves off, ask for forgiveness, and get back on track.
Punishment? Sorry, it's not in the job description.
posted by Joanna Depue | 12:25 AM
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