Bible Verse: Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:14–21 (NIV)
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:43-48; Matthew 6:14; 2 Corinthians 13:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; Hebrews 10:30
Revenge might be fun to watch in old action movies or stock car races, but in real life, it’s not a good look for Christians. And it usually makes everything worse.
As men, we all have egos that we must constantly submit to the Holy Spirit for sanctification. But occasionally, we all get tempted to take revenge on the guy who cut us off in traffic or talked about us behind our back, or worse. We want payback for the wrong committed, but we must learn how to bring these angsts to God instead, so we handle our grievances with godliness.
Jesus instructed His followers to respond to life’s problems in ways that are not normal to the rest of the world. He calls us to a higher standard of life. Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:43-48). He also tells us to forgive those who sin against us (Matthew 6:14).
Jesus wants us to respond to life’s problems as children of God.
Children of God are in the care of their Heavenly Father, and they allow Him control in their affairs. The Apostle Paul in Romans 12 says we should aim for peace with everyone. We don’t repay evil for evil because our Father is looking out for us. He reserves the right to right the wrongs. Romans 12:19 says, “‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” We don’t have to fix everything; we can leave some things up to God.
When you follow the Lord’s instructions and forgive instead of taking revenge, you leave the problem (or problem person) in God’s capable hands. You are trusting God to take care of things.
Unforgiveness is, at its core, a control issue. We think if we hold a grudge, we are somehow judging and correcting the situation. God would rather you leave that to Him. You don’t need the stress and drama of revenge, nor the harm it will cause you in the long run. It is better to forgive.
Prayer: Father, forgive me for the times I have sought revenge and tried to take control through payback and grudges. Help me to relinquish control to You more in the future. I choose to trust You as I put the things that make me angry in Your care. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Reflection: How quick are you to take revenge on someone for wrongs they commit against you? The next time you feel wronged or offended, stop the surge of anger you are tempted to give in to and pray instead. Commit the problem to God, tell Him all about it, and then commit both the offence and that person to His care. Pray for that person. Then, leave the issue with God and trust He will deal with it how He wants to.
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