LAST WEEK:

Replace the lies with truths

Surround yourself with those truths

Read the truths out loud to yourself

Pray that God would bring the truths to mind

Everyone has a story, and we don’t always know what that story is.

Acts 7:51-58 NLT
⁵¹ “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! ⁵² Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. ⁵³ You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”

⁵⁴ The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. ⁵⁵ But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. ⁵⁶ And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”

⁵⁷ Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him ⁵⁸ and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. 

 

Saul and his men were on their way to kill and persecute more Jesus followers, but on the way, Saul had this crazy wild encounter with Jesus. There was a bright light and Saul heard a voice.

⁵ “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! ⁶ Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:5-6 NLT

… anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.
The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

 

God can rewrite anyone’s story.
He restores brokenness.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

If we are valuable and worthy just because we are created by God, then it means that other people around us are valuable and worthy because they are also created by God.

Even if other people around us are not behaving in a way we care for, or we think they’re odd, or we just don’t like being around them, they are still valuable and worthy.

They are created in the image of God.

¹⁹ Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. ²⁰ Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Romans 12:19-20

⁹ Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. ¹⁰ For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. ¹¹ Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. ¹² The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”
I Peter 3:9-14 NLT

It’s not our job to take revenge. It’s our job to show people love and kindness.

Don’t retaliate.

Pray that God would change your heart and theirs.

 

When we model Jesus and bless others even when they’re unkind to us, we show the world the love of Jesus.

And that helps shine the light of His kingdom into the darkest parts of our world.