Rebate Program

I love a good rebate, though I'm not too fond of filling out the forms and waiting months to receive the money.

I've mentioned my struggle with patience before.

I'll never understand why they can't just give you the best price without going through all these hoops.

But I digress.

I must confess I feel the same way about waiting for God's repayment.

I can think back to many times when I'd been hurt, and I would plop myself down, waiting impatiently for vengeance and retribution.

I'm not talking about forgiveness; I'm talking about the expectation of being paid back for all that was taken from me.

I wanted what was mine.

It's almost like I'm a mafia boss, asking God to be like one of my soldiers to go and get revenge.

Unfortunately, that's not how God works.

As justified as we might be in our thirst for a rebate for the price we have paid, God teaches a different way.

God is in charge of how and when we will be reimbursed.

We can sit there scheming and slandering as long as we want, but it won't motivate God to bend to our malicious will.

We must combat evil with good.

One of the scriptures below references that when you help your enemy, it's like a heap of burning coals on his head.

I was like, wait, what?

Again, I'm no biblical scholar, but I think that references a custom in Egypt where people would carry a pan of burning coals on their heads as a sign of repentance.

So, our kindness could draw people to repentance.

Hmmm, I guess that's good. Right?

At first, I felt a twinge of nastiness, thinking they should suffer, not repent.

But then, I remember the countless times I should have suffered for all I had done and the grace and mercy given me.

I bet I would have had to carry that pan around a lot if I lived back in those days,

But God isn’t into the shame and punishment. He offers redemption and teaches us to wash away evil with good.

So, let's get up from our revenge-focused-plopped-ness and go in peace.  

God's rebate program requires no paperwork or forms; it is just a willingness to accept that God will handle the details, in His time (yeah, patience still required).

You focus on doing good and giving the same kindness, grace, and mercy shown to you.

Do not be overcome, my friend; God will make it right.

Someday, you will stop and be amazed at how God has repaid you in so many ways, more than you could have ever dreamed possible.

Romans 12: 17-21

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

On the contrary, If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Isaiah 61:7

Instead of your shame, you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace, you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.

2 Thessalonians 1:6-7

God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well, This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.