No Retaliation

 "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly."

— 1 Peter 2:21-23

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

Thank you for leaving me an example of how to respond when I am verbally chastised, insulted, and torn down. You did not retaliate. No deceit was found in Your mouth. When You suffered, You made no threats. Instead You entrusted Yourself to the Father who judges Your accusers justly.

Yesterday, a respected young man named Charlie Kirk, 31, who stood for righteousness and civil discourse was assassinated while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Charlie Kirk has consistently been one of the calmest and most polite among us. He listened to questions from his opponents and answered articulately, intelligently, and calmly. These are dark days for our nation. In Charlie, we see ourselves, the most polite version of ourselves, the most articulate, the most charitable to our enemies. And it appears that doesn't save us from attack or even death. It would appear to us that the goal for our critics and accusers is no longer peaceful protest, but intimidation, silencing, and destabilization of our democratic order. And that is troubling indeed.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 declares that Your grace is sufficient for me and Your power is made perfect in my weakness. Verse 10, "That is why for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Right now, in the midst of the hardships I endure, I am being made strong. I am learning how to find the kernel of truth within insults and accusations so I can repent and grow. I am learning how to love my enemies the way You loved Yours. I am learning how to entrust myself to my Father, the righteous Judge, who I believe by faith will address every injustice—the injustice against Charlie Kirk, the injustice against innocent victims, the injustice of broken systems, the injustice of senseless attacks. 

I am being shaped into the likeness of Jesus. And while there is pain in that process, I am following in Your steps. You suffered for me. And this is to what I have been called. Following in Your steps means enduring suffering, pain, accusation, insults, hardship, and in Charlie Kirk's case, possibly even death. Following in Your steps means not retaliating, but trusting. Even entrusting our very lives.

Gracious Lord Jesus, today I entrust myself to the Father. I choose to drop my arms and lay down my weapons of retaliation. I pray for my accusers. I ask for Holy Spirit's wisdom and insight. I choose to delight in every difficulty for my weakness You are strong. I pray for Charlie Kirk's family. I pray for the students who witnessed his brutal murder. I pray for our nation and for You to heal our land.

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!