WWJD?

"Do not those who plot evil go astray?
But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness."
Proverbs 14:22 NIV

Today, we discovered that someone had robbed our church of the Lord's tithe that had been collected yesterday. What a horrible feeling! You feel violated, you feel angry that someone would do that to the Lord and to the church, you just feel bad.

Of course your mind goes who could have done this? Why would someone have done this? Were they mad at the pastor or his sermon? Were the upset at the church in general? Were they trying to teach us a lesson? Or, on the other hand, were they just desperate? Were they hungry? Did they have a family to feed? The what ifs could go on.

But on the Sunday, Pastor Eric was teaching with an emphasis on living a 'new' life, in Christ, not just a 'changed' life. How we shouldn't be happy with just being a 'changed' person but strive to becoming a 'new' person in the love and blood of Jesus. How we shouldn't be gossipers or throw stones or be a hypocrite--because even though we think that we are hiding all of our secret bad habits--and we all have some--the Lord and the world sees them all. They're not hidden at all.

And then this happens. We all could be gossiping about who could or could not have done it. We could be full of anger or even hate, at who did this. But, as the old saying goes, "What would Jesus do?" He would love the offender. It is not up to us to judge. It is up to us to pray, as our church has been doing--for the soul and life of the person or persons who did this. Satan can try to have his day with us, but in the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, he is again, not victorious. Our church family has once again, arise to the occasion, with forgiveness and prayer.

So, take a lesson in this. When someone has wronged you, don't attack wrong with wrong--sin with sin. Attack these things with love--God's love. That way you don't fall into the same trap as the offender--you rise above. You can stand proud and look your heavenly Father in the eyes and be confident. Knowing that you weren't a hypocrite---that you did what Jesus would do.

And He could look you straight back and say to you, "Job well done, my child, whom I love." What a moment!