No Need to Demand Rights. Choose Love.
Renungan Harian / 22 May 2015
-
Share:
Yenny Kartika Official Writer
1564Luke
6:29
To him who strikes
you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your
cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.
Bible
Reading for a Year
[bible]psalm142[/bible]; [bible]0john2[/bible]; [bible]iisam11-12[/bible]
We talk a lot about
rights these days. Yet the attention given to human entitlements hasn’t brought
about corporate or personal freedom. Instead, most people are prisoners of
jealousy (you have greater rights than I do!), greed (I deserve more!), or
bitterness (my rights have been violated!).
Instead of focusing
on the privileges due us, we should take the biblical perspective of loving
enemies and forgiving persecutors (Matt. 5:44). Believers lay down their rights
so they can take up the cause of a holy kingdom. That doesn’t mean that we let
people trample on us. Rather, we offer a proper response according to biblical
principles. In short, believers should be more concerned about showing God’s
love to those who do wrong than about demanding their rights.
Maybe you’re
thinking, “But he doesn’t know how I’ve been mistreated”. Indeed I do not. But
what I do know is how Jesus Christ, our example, reacted to terrible abuse. He
was betrayed by His friends, persecuted by His people, condemned by His peers,
and crucified for our sins. Yet He said, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34).
Before assuming
that Jesus’ capacity for forgiveness and love is out of reach for mere human
beings, remember: His Spirit dwells in believers. We can choose to give away
our rights and let God’s love work through us.
Remember
that love defeats judgment. Choose love and you will have freedom. However, if
you choose to demand your rights, then you will be captivated by them.
-
Share:
Apakah Anda rindu menerima Yesus sebagai Tuhan dan Juruslamat pribadi dalam hidup Anda?
Ikuti doa ini sekarang:
“Tuhan, saya mengakui bahwa saya orang berdosa. Saya membutuhkan Engkau. Saya percaya bahwa darahMu sanggup menghapuskan segala dosa dan kesalahanku. Saat ini, saya mengundang Engkau, Yesus Kristus, masuk dalam hati dan hidupku menjadi Tuhan dan Juruslamatku. Saya menyerahkan hidupku bagiMu dan melayaniMu.
Dalam nama Yesus aku berdoa. Amin”
