Through the Eyes of Grace

 1 Thess 5:15
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

The old saying, “I don’t get mad, I get even” is what Paul was referring to when he wrote down the word, see that none renders evil for evil. The human reaction to being wrong is to strike back. That is the carnal and natural man's response, but the spiritual man sees people through the eyes of grace, and follows that which is good. “Do good to those who persecute you.” The words of Christ, as He preached on the Sermon on the Mount. Turning the cheek towards those that despise and hate you because you stand for truth and seek to live as Christ lives is made possible because the Holy Spirit empowers the believer to love and forgive. This is not to say that we should not defend ourselves and our family from being hurt, but when situations are out of our control, we trust God to take care of us. Most people render evil because they have hate in their heart and sin causes them to hurt others. It is the grace of God that is able to change this heart, and we are the light of the world to show others there is another way to live. We can live to show love and kindness to all men, even in times when evil is being rendered to us.

Rendering our Hearts

Joel 2:13 “And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth of the evil.”

Rendering our hearts is more than just a lay me down to sleep prayer. To render the heart is to demonstrate a contrite and broken heart. A heart that is in mourning and grief stricken for the way it has treated God. A render heart will cry out to God for mercy and forgiveness. It realized that it has grieved it’s Maker and has brought displeasure to the One who loves them. A sincere heart will come to God with a minds eye to only please the Father. We may try and come to God and bargain with Him, but God is not interested in burnt sacrifices, He wants a heart that has been rendered and surrendered to the His will. May we turn from our sinful ways of doing things our way, and turn to God, who is merciful and mighty to heal a heart that has been rendered.