Scripture

Our verse for today comes from 2 Timothy 4:14, ” Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. ” 

Background

Each of us has an Alexander in our past, don’t we? We all have that someone who hurt us in a bad way, who intentionally or not, left us with wounds and scars that still today may be painful. Some might be physical, many more might be emotional. But the damage was real, and the thoughts and memories perhaps are all too vivid. So what do we do with that? Do we pray like Paul did that they get from the Lord what they deserve? Is that going to ease our way and make things right? Perhaps we should consider it from another angle. Imagine if you were someone else’s Alexander. And why not? I mean, if all of us have been hurt, then the chances are that each of us did some hurting somewhere in the past. So, in your role as a doer of much harm, what would you have your victim do? How would you have them pray about you? Would you have them plea for God to deal with you according to how you have treated them? Maybe you would like another chance, perhaps even a couple more chances. It’s a frightening thought to consider someone else praying that the Lord would have His way with you. We don’t want to think that we could hurt someone enough to where that would be their response. 

Application

But those Alexanders are out there. They are down every hall of the high schools of our past. They are front and center in almost every broken marriage. You may even work with one this very day. And that calls us to turn our eyes on ourselves. Is there a situation you are in where one of you is about to become an Alexander? Are you feeling like a victim and wanting some justice? Are you dishing it out pretty good, feeling justified in pointing out every fault around you? Are you already an Alexander and don’t even realize it? We’re quick to recall the Alexanders from our past and the pain they caused. But let’s do all we can, in word and deed, to not become an Alexander for someone in the future. The cost is too high. 

Charge

As we seek Him today, ask God to help you forgive an Alexander, especially if it’s you. And ask Him to keep you from becoming one. 

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words