Villains And Bullies

A person who plans evilwill get a reputation as a troublemaker.

Proverbs 24:8

For every great story there always seems to be a villain. My grandma called it “a snake in the woodpile.” Someone always has a bone to pick, an axe to grind, a grudge to nurse. In fourth grade we had both a playground bully and a sneaky little tattletale. They started young; I wonder if they ever grew out of it.

Your kids will have bullies on their playground too,and later at the workplace, in the neighborhood, and maybe in their families. I bet even the bullies have bullies.

Taylor Swift wrote a song that asks the big question “Why ya gotta be so mean? You with your words like knives and swords and weapons that you use against me. You have knocked me off my feet. . . . All you are is mean and a liar and pathetic and alone in life and mean and mean and mean and mean. . . . Why ya gotta be so mean?”

The question then is not, will we encounter people who are harsh and mean? The question is, what do we, can we, and should we do about it?

Paul the apostle was the target of slander campaigns, beatings, and plots to kill him. When he wrote to the Christians in Rome, they were already feeling the rumblings of persecution. In Romans 12:17-19 God gave him (and us) the answer: “ Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. . . . ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the LORD.”

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

The good news for us is, what doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger. Having our feelings hurt can teach us to not baby our feelings. It can break us of trying to protect our territory or reputation or rights. We are much better off when we leave every part of our lives entirely in the good hands of our good God.

Let’s Pray

Lord, you are the God who sees all things. Forgive me when I get ruffled and angry when a bully threatens. Put a shield over my heart, a silencer on my tongue, and peace in my soul.

One Year Bible Reading

Isaiah 54:1–57:14; Ephesians 6:1-24; Psalm 70:1-5; Proverbs 24:8