Right And Wrongs

It's crucial to distinguish between personal wrongs, which we must be willing to forgive, and deliberate attacks on the gospel of Christ, which the Lord will judge. Paul drew that distinction in his letter to his young friend Timothy.

First, Paul wrote with respect to an opponent of the gospel: "Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words" (2 Timothy 4:14-15).

The "harm" Alexander had done to Paul was not to him personally but to his message, and he was now engaged in stirring up opposition to Timothy's proclamation of the gospel.

Then, as if to plainly contrast and distinguish between those who oppose God's work and those who personally wrong us, Paul followed with these gracious words: "At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them" (2 Timothy 4:16).

How sad that Paul's fellow Christians would desert the apostle in his hour of deep need! What should be done to them? Surely they're deserving of his righteous anger. Not so. Paul said, "May it not be charged against them."

Lord, help us to be gracious too. — David H. Roper

You sacrificed Your life for us—
You shed Your blood so we could live;
So help us, Lord, to follow You,
To love each other and forgive. —Sper

Treat others' faults as graciously as you do your own.

When Thomas Aquinas began to attend classes at the University of Paris in the 13th century, he seldom spoke up in class. His fellow students thought that his silence meant he wasn't very smart, so they nicknamed him "the dumb ox."

His peers must have been surprised when he excelled in his studies and went on to write great works of theology still in use today. Thomas Aquinas was a misjudged genius.

How could his classmates have been so wrong? They judged him only by his outward appearance. They didn't really know what he was like on the inside.

God had told the prophet Samuel to anoint a new king to rule His people Israel. David the shepherd boy did not appear to be kingly material. His youthfulness did not measure up to the age and stature of his older brother Eliab (1 Samuel 16:6). Yet the Lord corrected Samuel's original perception (1 Samuel 16:7). David would go on to become a great warrior and the Lord's chosen ruler of His people (1 Samuel 13:14; 18:8; 2 Samuel 7:1-17).

When you are tempted to judge someone by his outward appearance, remember Thomas Aquinas and King David. The heart is what matters to God. — Dennis Fisher

First impressions can mislead us,
For we do not know the heart;
We can often be mistaken,
Since we only know in part. —Fitzhugh

The true measure of a person is what's in the heart.

"May it not be charged against them."

Personal effrontery ... Stephen, our Lord, so many examples.

It's crucial to distinguish between personal wrongs, which we must be willing to forgive, and deliberate attacks on the gospel of Christ, which the Lord will judge.