While the title above might sound like a cool name for a place that just serves cakes, pies, ice cream and cookies, for many of you, when you read “just desserts” you’ll know its a saying that means you hope the other person gets what they deserve. And no, not something positive like a cake or cookies, but rather what they have coming to them for what they have done wrong to others, especially to us.
But should we wish that upon another person? Not really. Do we often think it? Probably. Is this fitting for a Christian? No. But do we act this way anyway. Unfortunately yes.
To be sure, we don’t always behave like this, I mean not towards our friends or family, but when we think about those we don’t like, well, they are fair game. But really, should they be?
The Bible clearly says no. Jesus didn’t teach that. And He didn’t teach karma either. He said we are to love others as He has loved us. Even our enemies. he said we should pray for them, not wish they got what they have coming to them.
Paul echoes Jesus when he carefully reminds the Christians in Rome that God demonstrated His version of love towards us in while we were still enemies towards Him. He sent Jesus, His son to die for us. (Romans 5:8-10).
In our human nature, we want to remain hostile toward those who have hurt us. We don’t want to demonstrate love for them. We want them to hurt as we do. But as we read in the Bible, that is not the way Jesus acted. He taught a different way. Not an eye for an eye, or revenge, but love, forgiveness and grace towards our fellow man.
This does not mean that justice is ignored or an abuse of power over another is ever justified or promoted, but that as we deal with others in this world, we can pray for them, show love, forgive, and let God work on them. We are not the Holy Spirit. We can promote justice where it is required, offer protection for the wounded and hurting and demonstrate a life that realizes what God did for us. (While we were still estranged from Him, before we could even grasp what Jesus did on the cross). We are not better than our fellow man, but just one who has found the power of grace, love and forgiveness offered to us by God through Christ.
We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to live lives that reflect God’s spirit in us, the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), so that others can see Christ in us. Will we always get it right? Probably not, but as we mature in our faith we can focus on what Christ has done for us when we didn’t deserve it, and that will open up our hearts and eyes to forgive others, see them as God does, and pray that they too can find God.
God Bless- Nancy
Moving Forward 