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Don’t Retaliate!, June 18
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise
blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should
inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:9
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Be determined not to please the enemy by allowing words of unfavor-
able criticism to lead you to retaliate or to depress you. Make the enemy’s
efforts a failure so far as you are concerned. Then the Lord will draw
near to you and will give you a rich measure of love and peace and joy
so deep and full that even in the midst of the trial of your faith you can
bear triumphant witness to the truth of the word of promise. You will
have a sense of the divine presence. The eyes of your understanding will
be enlightened, and the truth that at times you have seen but dimly you
will then see clearly. You will be able to tell the story of the cross with
a deep appreciation of the Saviour’s love, for this love will have melted
your heart. You will bear about with you in the daily life the witness that
Christ is formed within, the hope of glory.
Look constantly to Jesus. Take all your troubles to Him. He will never
misunderstand you. He is the refuge of His people. Under the shadow of
His protection they can pass unharmed. Believe in Him and trust in Him.
He will not give you up to the spoiler.
Let the atmosphere surrounding your soul be sweet and fragrant. If
you will battle against selfish human nature, you will go steadily forward
in the work of overcoming hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong.
By patience, long-suffering, and forbearance you will accomplish much.
Remember that you cannot be humiliated by the unwise speeches of
someone else, but that when you speak unwisely you humiliate yourself
and lose a victory that you might have gained....
Keep yourselves where the three great powers of heaven—the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit—can be your efficiency. These powers work
with the one who gives himself unreservedly to God. The strength of
heaven is at the command of God’s believing ones. The man who makes
God his trust is barricaded by an impregnable wall.
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