FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “Withdraw Your Claws”

Supplies: Bible

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Let’s play a little matching game.  One person in your family will read a common phrase and the rest of your clan will come up with a scenario or situation where you might hear or say that phrase.  Ok, here we go.

1.  “I’m gonna get you for that!”

2.  “Vengeance is mine!”

3.  “Watch out—payback’s coming.”

4.  “He got what he deserved.”

5.  “I’ll get even, just you wait!”

Are you noticing a theme?  All of these phrases are used in the same kinds of situations.  Person A did something negative to Person B, so Person B responds by doing/planning/threatening to do something negative to Person A.  

Wanting revenge is a pretty common response, so much so that I’m not sure we always realize we’re doing it.  We’re like cats: if we feel we’re being attacked, the claws come out almost automatically.  When someone does something mean to us, a lot of times our reflex response—even if it’s just our thoughts—is to plan something mean to do or say back.  It’s like we feel some need to balance things out, and somehow, in our brains, pushing the kid who just pushed us restores the equilibrium.  But does it really?

READ

Check out what Jesus had to say by reading Matthew 5:38-42.

THINK

Jesus starts by quoting the existing Jewish law.  There were established consequences for different offenses, and the goal was to keep them as equal as possible.  That’s why it’s an “eye for an eye” and a “tooth for a tooth.”  Of course, we have our own legal system in place today.  If a crime is committed against Person B, there will be some kind of consequence for Person A.  When Jesus starts talking about this topic, He’s not suggesting we toss the entire law and let chaos and anarchy rule.  Laws are necessary for a society to function and not destroy itself.

Instead, I think Jesus is trying to change our hearts and our attitudes toward laws and, more specifically, law breakers.  Like just about everything else, when we are hurt or offended by another our Savior wants us to lead with love.  That should become our instinct!  Disengage the claws and let service, humility, grace, mercy, and helpfulness pour out instead.  When the school bully walks up during recess and gives you a shove, smile and ask if there’s a way you can help him out.  When the neighbor walks his dog in your yard and leaves the little presents there, clean them up and then help out by cleaning his yard too.  If someone starts spreading nasty rumors, politely ask them to stop…and then ask them if there’s any way you could pray for them or their family.  Can you imagine how things could change??

Jesus doesn’t want us to be doormats.  He wants us to have genuine love for ALL of the people around us and to express that love through grace and forgiveness, no matter what the circumstances.

APPLY

Ok, so what has the Holy Spirit been talking to you about?  Is there someone in specific in your life that brings out your claws?  Maybe they know exactly what buttons to push or they get their fun by making your life miserable.  Ask God for help in changing your heart for this person.  Or maybe for you it’s a need to change your whole reflex system.  It’s not one person who brings out your claws—it’s everybody!  Think about different ways you can respond to attacks, and then ask the Holy Spirit to help you in the moment.  We really can change our part of the world, but it starts with us.

PRAY

Heavenly Father, we praise Your Name!  Thank You for pouring out Your love on us through Your Son, Jesus Christ.  Now help us to arm ourselves with that very same love, a weapon almost unknown to the world around us.  Help us as we use it to bring hearts closer to Yours.  In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

REPLY

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