[Ohio-Communities-of-Faith] "Love from a Distance"- Brenda Walsh Ministries Daily Devotion

Wed Jul 14 17:10:26 UTC 2021

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Love from a Distance
Being a Christian does not mean that you are supposed to be a doormat and just let everyone walk all over you. Neither does it mean that you have to put up with abuse, insults, and betrayal over and over again. There’s a text in the Bible that many people misinterpret. It’s found in Matthew 5:39 and it says, “But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” Some people take that verse out of context and think that God wants them to let people mistreat them. But if this was true, you would be required to let everyone take advantage of you, which would actually encourage people to commit evil. When Jesus told his disciples to “turn the other cheek,” He was asking them to treat their enemies with love instead of seeking revenge and harboring bitterness and anger. He wants you to show kindness even to your enemies. God requires you to forgive, but it doesn’t mean that you have to stick around and allow people to keep abusing you physically or emotionally. Sometimes it’s best to forgive, but then move on without that person in your life. There are Christians who often get confused over what forgiveness really means. Some think that if they forgive someone who has done them wrong, then they shouldn’t feel bad anymore, but God didn’t create man with a heart of steel. Of course, you will feel heartache and pain when someone does you wrong. Forgiving doesn’t erase the hurt, but it does take away the anger and bitterness. Others think that forgiveness requires that they continue in the relationship. But neither of these beliefs are based on Bible truth. It is not only possible to forgive and walk away, but sometimes necessary for your own safety and sanity. There are cases where mothers stayed with their husbands who were sexually abusing their children because they falsely believed that it was what God wanted and required. Matthew 18:6 tells exactly how God feels about mistreating children: “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” God wants you to live a joy-filled life, but that would be impossible if you were in an environment where you were being abused and mistreated. That’s why sometimes you just have to forgive, and then love people from a distance–and that’s okay. Text: Romans 12:17, Hebrews 12:15, Galatians 5:1, Mark 11:25

Bible Texts:
Romans 12:17 NKJV - Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 

Hebrews 12:15 NKJV - looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 

Galatians 5:1 NKJV - Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 

Mark 11:25 NKJV - "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses."

© Brenda Walsh Ministries www.brendawalsh.com

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