Now. The word now means “at the present time.” But the interesting thing about a blog posting is that the author’s now and the now of the reader will necessarilty be different. So, I can write a blog either expecting the reader to place him or herself in my now, or I can write the blog from the perspective of my reader’s now. Today I’m doing both!

You see, I’m convinced that someday someone will stumble across this posting will have God speak to them in their now through the following two biblical passages which I feel strongly led in my now to put into the blogsophere:

Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. (Proverbs 20:22)

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

Are you that someone? Is today that day? Is there some reason why you need to be reminded today (your now–the day you’re reading this) of these biblical exhorations to put your hurt into the hands of God rather than seeking revenge yourself?

It can be so very tempting to want to strike back, to get even with those who have deliberately damaged us with “malice aforethought.” But those of us who follow Christ are exhorted … not to. As a matter of fact, we are encouraged to actually love our enemies, praying for those who persecute us (Matt 5:44). In this way, says Jesus, we take the tack of our Father in Heaven whose loving posture toward all human beings has the effect of causing people to reveal the true condition of their hearts, either good or evil. In other words, our loving response to those who hurt us will either cause them to feel remorse and to repent, or it won’t. While we should hope for the former to occur, either way, the true condition of their heart before God will become obvious and God’s ultimate judgment of them will be beyond reproach.  

Could it be that your reading these words today is no accident? Maybe there’s a reason why you’ve stumbled across this blog at this point in time. Could it be that God had me write something in my now that he knew you would need later on in your now?

I don’t know who you are, but I’m praying for you in my now. May God apply the effect of my prayer to your life right at the moment when you most need it–in your now. You’re not alone. We are connected, you and I, by a God who loves us both and is at work in both our nows. Be encouraged. God knows what has happened to you and what you’re feeling in your now. The One always lives in the eternal now saw it coming. So, do the right thing. Keep waiting on the Lord instead of taking revenge. Pray a prayer for the one who has hurt you instead of hurting them back.

Something to think about.