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Luke 12:58-59
Suppose someone has a claim against you, and you are on your way to court. Try hard to settle the matter on the way. If you don’t, that person may drag you off to the judge. The judge may turn you over to the officer. And the officer may throw you into prison.I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny!”
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Proverbs 25:8
don’t bring too quickly to court. What will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame?
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Hebrews 3:13
But build one another up every day. Do it as long as there is still time. Then none of you will become stubborn. You won’t be fooled by sin’s tricks.
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Hebrews 3:7
The Holy Spirit says,“ Listen to his voice today.
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Luke 14:31-32
“ Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. And suppose he has 10,000 men, while the other has 20,000 coming against him. Won’t he first sit down and think about whether he can win?And suppose he decides he can’t win. Then he will send some men to ask how peace can be made. He will do this while the other king is still far away.
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Isaiah 55:6-7
Turn to the Lord before it’s too late. Call out to him while he’s still ready to help you.Let those who are evil stop doing evil things. And let them quit thinking evil thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord. The Lord will show them his tender love. Let them turn to our God. He is always ready to forgive.
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Luke 13:24-25
“ Try very hard to enter through the narrow door. I tell you, many will try to enter and will not be able to.The owner of the house will get up and close the door. Then you will stand outside knocking and begging. You will say,‘ Sir, open the door for us.’“ But he will answer,‘ I don’t know you. And I don’t know where you come from.’
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Psalms 32:6
Let everyone who is faithful pray to you while they can still look to you. When troubles come like a flood, they certainly won’t reach those who are faithful.
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Genesis 32:3-8
Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau. Esau lived in the land of Seir. It was also called the country of Edom.Jacob told the messengers what to do. He said,“ Here’s what you must tell my master Esau.‘ Your servant Jacob says,“ I’ve been staying with Laban. I’ve remained there until now.I have cattle and donkeys and sheep and goats. I also have male and female servants. Now I’m sending this message to you. I hope I can please you.” ’ ”The messengers came back to Jacob. They said,“ We went to your brother Esau. He’s coming now to meet you. He has 400 men with him.”Jacob was very worried and afraid. So he separated the people with him into two groups. He also separated the flocks and herds and camels.He thought,“ Esau might come and attack one group. If he does, the group that’s left can escape.”
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1 Kings 22 26-1 Kings 22 27
Then the king of Israel gave an order. He said,“ Take Micaiah away. Send him back to Amon. Amon is the ruler of the city of Samaria. And send him back to Joash. Joash is a member of the royal court.Tell him,‘ The king says,“ Put this fellow in prison. Don’t give him anything but bread and water until I return safely.” ’ ”
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Hebrews 12:17
As you know, after that he wanted to receive his father’s blessing. But he was turned away. With tears he tried to get the blessing. But he couldn’t change what he had done.
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Job 22:21
“ Job, obey God and be at peace with him. Then he will help you succeed.
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Proverbs 6:1-5
My son, don’t promise to pay for what your neighbor owes. Don’t agree to pay a stranger’s bill.Don’t be trapped by what you have said. Don’t be caught by the words of your mouth.Instead, my son, do something to free yourself. Don’t fall into your neighbor’s hands. Go until you can’t go anymore. Don’t let your neighbor rest.Don’t let your eyes go to sleep. Don’t let your eyelids close.As a deer frees itself from a hunter, free yourself. As a bird frees itself from a trapper, free yourself.
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Genesis 33:3-11
He himself went on ahead. As he came near his brother, he bowed down to the ground seven times.But Esau ran to meet Jacob. He hugged him and threw his arms around his neck. He kissed him, and they cried for joy.Then Esau looked around and saw the women and children.“ Who are these people with you?” he asked. Jacob answered,“ They are the children God has so kindly given to me.”Then the female servants and their children came near and bowed down.Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel. They bowed down too.Esau asked,“ Why did you send all those herds I saw?”“ I hoped I could do something to please you,” Jacob replied.But Esau said,“ I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.”“ No, please!” said Jacob.“ If I’ve pleased you, accept this gift from me. Seeing your face is like seeing the face of God. You have welcomed me so kindly.Please accept the present that was brought to you. God has given me so much. I have everything I need.” Jacob wouldn’t give in. So Esau accepted it.
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2 Corinthians 6 2
He says,“ When I had mercy on you, I heard you. On the day I saved you, I helped you.”( Isaiah 49:8) I tell you, now is the time God has mercy. Now is the day he saves.
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Genesis 32:13-22
Jacob spent the night there. He chose a gift for his brother Esau from what he had with him.He chose 200 female goats and 20 male goats. He chose 200 female sheep and 20 male sheep.He chose 30 female camels with their little ones. He chose 40 cows and ten bulls. And he chose 20 female donkeys and ten male donkeys.He put each herd by itself. Then he put his servants in charge of them. He said to his servants,“ Go on ahead of me. Keep some space between the herds.”Jacob spoke to his servant who was leading the way. He said,“ My brother Esau will meet you. He’ll ask,‘ Who is your master? Where are you going? And who owns all these animals in front of you?’Then say to Esau,‘ They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift to you from him. And Jacob is coming behind us.’ ”He also spoke to the second and third servants. He told them and all the others who followed the herds what to do. He said,“ Say the same thing to Esau when you meet him.Make sure you say,‘ Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.’ ” Jacob was thinking,“ I’ll make peace with him with these gifts I’m sending on ahead. When I see him later, maybe he’ll welcome me.”So Jacob’s gifts went on ahead of him. But he himself spent the night in the camp.That night Jacob got up. He took his two wives, his two female servants and his 11 sons and sent them across the Jabbok River.
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1 Samuel 25 17-1 Samuel 25 35
Now think it over. See what you can do. Horrible trouble will soon come to our master and his whole family. He’s such an evil man that no one can even talk to him.”Abigail didn’t waste any time. She got 200 loaves of bread and two bottles of wine. The bottles were made out of animal skins. She got five sheep that were ready to be cooked. She got a bushel of grain that had been cooked. She got 100 raisin cakes. And she got 200 cakes of pressed figs. She loaded all of it on the backs of donkeys.Then she told her servants,“ Go on ahead. I’ll follow you.” But she didn’t tell her husband Nabal about it.Abigail rode her donkey into a mountain valley. There she saw David and his men. They were coming down toward her.David had just said,“ Everything we’ve done hasn’t been worth a thing! I watched over that fellow’s property in the desert. I made sure none of it was stolen. But he has paid me back evil for good.I won’t leave even one of his men alive until morning. If I do, may God punish me greatly!”When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey. She bowed down in front of David with her face toward the ground.She fell at his feet. She said,“ Pardon your servant, sir. Please let me speak to you. Listen to what I’m saying. Let me take the blame myself.Please don’t pay any attention to that evil man Nabal. His name means Foolish Person. And that’s exactly what he is. He’s always doing foolish things. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to see the men you sent.Sir, the Lord has kept you from killing Nabal and his men. He has kept you from using your own hands to get even. So may what’s about to happen to Nabal happen to all your enemies. May it happen to everyone who wants to harm you. And may it happen just as surely as the Lord your God and you are alive.I’ve brought a gift for you. Give it to the men who follow you.“ Please forgive me if I shouldn’t have done that. The Lord your God will certainly give you and your family line a kingdom that will last. That’s because you fight the Lord’ s battles. You won’t do anything wrong as long as you live.Someone may chase you and try to kill you. But the Lord your God will keep your life safe like a treasure hidden in a bag. And he’ll destroy your enemies. Their lives will be thrown away, just as a stone is thrown from a sling.The Lord will do for you every good thing he promised to do. He’ll appoint you ruler over Israel.When that happens, you won’t have this heavy load on your mind. You won’t have to worry about how you killed people without any reason. You won’t have to worry about how you got even. The Lord your God will give you success. When that happens, please remember me.”David said to Abigail,“ Give praise to the Lord. He is the God of Israel. He has sent you today to find me.May the Lord bless you for what you have done. You have shown a lot of good sense. You have kept me from killing Nabal and his men this day. You have kept me from using my own hands to get even.It’s a good thing you came quickly to meet me. If you hadn’t come, not one of Nabal’s men would have been left alive by sunrise. And that’s just as sure as the Lord, the God of Israel, is alive. He has kept me from harming you.”Then David accepted from her what she had brought him. He said,“ Go home in peace. I’ve heard your words. I’ll do what you have asked.”
