TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

DEVOTIONAL

by Sandra Chua

There’s a TV series that I watched wherein the main character always stood up for what she believed was right. She would go into a fight insisting on her rights recklessly. People around her could only shake their heads. Proverbs 20:3 says,” It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. ” 

Insisting on our rights has to be done with both meekness and discernment. For example, when driving, we should not insist on our right of way and not slow down when we see another car or a pedestrian unawarely crossing our path. I’m sure you’d rather give up your right of way than end up in a car mishap. 

Abimelech, jealous and threatened by Isaac’s growing wealth, asked Isaac to depart from him. Isaac moved down to the valley and looked for a fresh source of water. His servants discovered freshwater soon, but the shepherds around the place claimed it to be theirs. Meekly, Isaac’s men dug another well, but sadly, there was a dispute over it again. Avoiding strife, they continued to search for freshwater. Finally, they found one which did not raise complaints from the surrounding shepherds. With that, they peacefully settled and called the place Rehoboth. 

Isaac could have insisted on his rights to the first two wells, but with much wisdom and faith that the Lord would provide a better place, he did not quarrel over the wells. Instead, he waited patiently to find a place that would not cause strife, a place of peace and space created by the Lord for him.

REFLECTION

How do I react when I know I am in the right? How willing am I to be wronged, leave everything to God, and not fight back? How can I pray for discernment on whether to stand firm or give way?

PRAYER