Monday May 28th, 2018 1 Samuel 2:1-10
"... not by might does one prevail." (verse 9)
Hannah reminds us that our God does not play by our rules, but turns our preconceptions and ideas upside down. Jesus came as Messiah and did not raise an army to kick the Romans out. Instead, Jesus reminded his people that God told them to love their neighbours and do good to their enemies. (Lev.19:18; Proverbs 25:21-22) He also said to love enemies, show them kindness and forgive them. Then he showed us how, forgiving even those who crucified him.
When faced with injustice and evil, we, too, have to choose whether we respond with non-violent resistance or by using force. Mahatma Ghandi, Oscar Romero, Martin Luther King Jr., Malala Yousafzai and others chose the path of non-violent resistance to great evil. It is no surprise that their victory over evil came at great cost to themselves, for did not Jesus also pay the price for his non-violent resistance to evil? Yet he prevailed over sin, death and the power of the evil one as God raised him from the dead! God always prevails over evil, but God demands that we do it God’s way, not our own. Only as we ask God’s guidance can we make the choices God wants us to make and thus prevail.
God, help us to prevail over evil by your might, not our own. Amen. — CJD
Contributed by By God’s Might
Hannah reminds us that our God does not play by our rules, but turns our preconceptions and ideas upside down. Jesus came as Messiah and did not raise an army to kick the Romans out. Instead, Jesus reminded his people that God told them to love their neighbours and do good to their enemies. (Lev.19:18; Proverbs 25:21-22) He also said to love enemies, show them kindness and forgive them. Then he showed us how, forgiving even those who crucified him.
When faced with injustice and evil, we, too, have to choose whether we respond with non-violent resistance or by using force. Mahatma Ghandi, Oscar Romero, Martin Luther King Jr., Malala Yousafzai and others chose the path of non-violent resistance to great evil. It is no surprise that their victory over evil came at great cost to themselves, for did not Jesus also pay the price for his non-violent resistance to evil? Yet he prevailed over sin, death and the power of the evil one as God raised him from the dead! God always prevails over evil, but God demands that we do it God's way, not our own. Only as we ask God's guidance can we make the choices God wants us to make and thus prevail.
