Whose "Place" Is It? . . . ephesians 4:27 & romans 12:19
I heard something recently in the New Testament that was expressed in a way that really opened my spiritual eyes, just like the blinders came off of some passages that I had heard maybe a hundred times before in my life, but now it is fresh!
As a born-again believer when I face different situations, I can determine whether or not to let God control the situation. If I don't allow God to take control, then Satan (a/k/a the enemy) is waiting to take advantage of my not relinquishing control of the situation to God. Okay, so nothing earth-shaking about that.
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. ephesians 4:26-27. The greek word for place is "topos" as in a space or location that is inhabitable and is separated or marked off from the surrounding space. The obvious meaning of this passage is that when I let anger fester and simmer within me, then the enemy is provided a place or room or some space in which he can gain a foothold to start to take residence in my life.
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay", saith the Lord. romans 12:17-19. Here, God is telling me, as a born-again believer, that whenever I am insulted, offended, suffering or hurt by someone, abused, put upon, baited or anything else for that matter, and I cave in to the temptation to be angry, bitter, resentful, vengeful or anything less than totally forgiving, then I fail to give "place" or room or space for God to deal with the person who I think has wronged me. So I'm starting to realize in those situations, that God often will delay righting the wrong caused by the offender until He has worked with me to sufficiently help me "get over" the offense, because only then will I be able to see clearly enough spiritually to understand as to how God wants to work in my offender's life. God commands me to give place or the space to God for God's onmiscient handiwork in both my life and the life of the other person.
The choice is mine as to who gets the "place." I can stay angry (in any of its many ugly variations) and allow Satan to gain a "place" in my life. Or I can completely surrender (relinquish) to Jesus my "right" which someone else treaded upon and in doing so I can trust that God in His all-knowing and all-powerful might will fill the "place" and work it for the best for everyone involved.
Heavenly Father, I don't have it within me to be strong enough to take offenses without retaliating or at least planning some type of retaliation. And I really don't want the baggage of having to be scheming and fretting towards the demise of a fellow man or woman who You made in Your image and You love. So I ask for Your strength through the Holy Spirit that You will live through me to do the humanly impossible, to turn the other cheek and to completely and genuinely forgive when I am offended, even as Jesus Christ forgave for each and every sin of mine that I heaped upon Him while He hung on the cross at Calvary. Lord, You work through this and every such situation to the glory of Your name and the fame of Your renown. In the precious, holy name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen.
© S. Chan, 2004. All rights reserved.
As a born-again believer when I face different situations, I can determine whether or not to let God control the situation. If I don't allow God to take control, then Satan (a/k/a the enemy) is waiting to take advantage of my not relinquishing control of the situation to God. Okay, so nothing earth-shaking about that.
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. ephesians 4:26-27. The greek word for place is "topos" as in a space or location that is inhabitable and is separated or marked off from the surrounding space. The obvious meaning of this passage is that when I let anger fester and simmer within me, then the enemy is provided a place or room or some space in which he can gain a foothold to start to take residence in my life.
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay", saith the Lord. romans 12:17-19. Here, God is telling me, as a born-again believer, that whenever I am insulted, offended, suffering or hurt by someone, abused, put upon, baited or anything else for that matter, and I cave in to the temptation to be angry, bitter, resentful, vengeful or anything less than totally forgiving, then I fail to give "place" or room or space for God to deal with the person who I think has wronged me. So I'm starting to realize in those situations, that God often will delay righting the wrong caused by the offender until He has worked with me to sufficiently help me "get over" the offense, because only then will I be able to see clearly enough spiritually to understand as to how God wants to work in my offender's life. God commands me to give place or the space to God for God's onmiscient handiwork in both my life and the life of the other person.
The choice is mine as to who gets the "place." I can stay angry (in any of its many ugly variations) and allow Satan to gain a "place" in my life. Or I can completely surrender (relinquish) to Jesus my "right" which someone else treaded upon and in doing so I can trust that God in His all-knowing and all-powerful might will fill the "place" and work it for the best for everyone involved.
Heavenly Father, I don't have it within me to be strong enough to take offenses without retaliating or at least planning some type of retaliation. And I really don't want the baggage of having to be scheming and fretting towards the demise of a fellow man or woman who You made in Your image and You love. So I ask for Your strength through the Holy Spirit that You will live through me to do the humanly impossible, to turn the other cheek and to completely and genuinely forgive when I am offended, even as Jesus Christ forgave for each and every sin of mine that I heaped upon Him while He hung on the cross at Calvary. Lord, You work through this and every such situation to the glory of Your name and the fame of Your renown. In the precious, holy name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen.
© S. Chan, 2004. All rights reserved.