Daily Devotion – 18 January2023
Upon request, repeat from January 4
DAMAR HAMLIN lies in a hosptal bed, with doctors and nursess doing their best to aide his recovery from the cardiac arrest he suffered shortly after having made a tackle.
Another all-too-vivid reminder of how violence has maneuvered itself into the mainstream of our 21st century. War, venom spewing from the mouths of celebrities as well as from the unknowns, mass killings, murders within families and among presumed friends, and we must add, meanness and violent acts committed even by persons whose jobs are to protect us.
Will it ever end? Probably not, which is certainly a main point in the Genesis story of Cain killing his brother Abel, not to mention the dozens, perhaps hundreds of other biblical accounts of human beings harming one another with words and weapons.
Jeus’ ministry was aimed at controlling violence. And his words of peace still resound worldwide. But let us focus on the one thing Jesus taught that we must not do when violence occurs or is threatened; We must not retaliate.
To retaliate only leads to more violence, a lesson we of Century 21 are being compelled to relearn.
Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[a] 39 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. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Granted, Damar's cardiac arrest did not directly result from a single act of retaliation. But football is a game of violence; and we Americans are inclined to love it because of what it is.
AMEN and AMEN!
