Scripture Reference: Romans 1:16; 1 Timothy 1:8-14

Promises – Continued

The second important thing the Christian faith promises to do is to put you in a right relationship to others. The Christian church is an amazing institution, isn’t it? Our critics say the church is responsible for much of the cruelty experienced in the world. It’s true that the organized church’s history is undeniably imperfect. The amazing thing to me is that, with all our imperfections, neither I or anyone else would wish to live in this world without the church as Christ intends it to be.

God has come in Christ to show us how to love and respect one another and to live free of a spirit of revenge toward those who have wronged us.

Recently, I heard a story which illustrates the spirit of revenge:

A fellow was driving down Hollywood Boulevard looking at the homes of movie stars. Passing by one attractive home, he saw a new Mercedes parked out front with a sign on it which read: “For Sale, $100.” Stopping, he went to the door and inquired about the Mercedes. “Is it true you are selling it for $100?”

“That’s what the sign says!” said the woman who answered the door.

Without hesitating he proceeded to purchase the car. When the transaction was complete he asked, “How is it that you can sell this new Mercedes for $100?”

Angrily she said, “Last week, my husband ran off with his secretary. He called this morning from Hawaii to tell me he had run out of money. He asked me to sell his car and send him the cash. So, that’s what I’m doing!”

Now, that’s revenge. Such behavior however, doesn’t need to be our response to mistreatment. The Christian faith promises to empower us to release our feelings of resentment and positively seek reconciliation with those who may have wronged us.

It promises to give us victory over our personal sins. All of us wrestle with a skeleton in our closet. Perhaps it’s a bad habit, a loose tongue, a debilitating lust, or an insatiable greed. Christ has come to help us with our “sin” problem and empower us in dealing with our personal sins.

Promises, promises, promises. They are everywhere. The Christian faith however really does deliver what it promises. It will help you know God’s forgiveness, learn to be forgiving, and experience victory over sin.

To Be Continued

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.