Never Take Your Own Revenge

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Never Take Your Own Revenge

Many live in bitterness,  vowing to take revenge  for the wrongs they have endured,  and seeking all sorts of ways  they can  “get back at”  those they dislike  for whatever reason.      Hardening their hearts  and rumbling  with hate,  they miss out on enjoying many things in life  as they focus only on  their troubles  and the revenge they desire.

Throughout God’s word,  we are repeatedly instructed  that we are not to waste our life  and energy  in the desire for revenge.      Hearing those words of God,  the listener might retort,  “Well,  why not?      I’ve suffered a great wrong  and nobody else  is going to set things straight!”      Here is God’s answer.

In the early church,  the new Christians suffered  all sorts of evil persecutions  from unbelievers.      And sometimes,  even within their church,  they felt that someone  was not being very nice.      In Romans 12:12-21,  Paul quotes snippets of Old Testament verses  to help the congregation  to understand the reality  of their situation.      He wrote,

Never pay back evil  for evil  to anyone.      Respect what is right  in the sight of all men.      If possible,  so far as it depends  on you,  be at peace  with all men.

Never take your own revenge,  beloved,  but leave room  for the wrath of God,  for it is written,  “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,  SAYS THE LORD.      BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY,  FEED HIM,  AND IF HE IS THIRSTY,  GIVE HIM A DRINK;  FOR IN SO DOING  YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS  UPON HIS HEAD.”

Do not be  overcome  by evil,  but overcome evil  with good.

God does  good to all men  —  the good and the bad.      We all have blessings of various kinds  from the Lord  that are meant to lead us  to God.      We can accept them  with thankful and loving hearts  that honor God  —  or we can arrogantly imagine  that we have all these things  because we  “deserve”  them  and because  we’re better than those  who don’t have  such blessings.      The children of God  have hearts  that thank and honor God.      The unbelievers  selfishly and unthankfully feel  they should have more  —  and they will continue  to try to gain their desires  in sinful ways.

But,  that does not have to concern  or bother us  in the least,  because God is almighty  —  always has been  and always will be.      He is in control  of absolutely all things  and He sees all  that is going on.      Our Lord wants us  to continually and faithfully  trust Him  in faith,  hope,  and love.      He will certainly  take care of all things for us,  sooner  or later.      God has repeatedly promised us  in His word,  “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.”

We can rest  in our knowledge  that God is telling us the truth  and He will keep His promise  to pass judgment  at the right time  and in the right way,  for the right reasons.      We are not to let ourselves  be overcome  by the evils  of taking revenge,  because we,  too,  are sinners.

If our enemy never repents  or turns to God,  that is his problem.      But,  if by our faith,  love,  and goodness,  our enemy  has a change of heart  and truly repents,  we have done God’s will  in assisting to bring sinners  to repentance.      Then we will have  “overcome evil with good”  and have obtained God’s favor  for trusting Him  in difficult situations.

Because of our sinful natures,  we might have a tough time  obeying God’s instructions.      But,  this is a part  of our Savior telling us  to persevere  and endure  the things of this world.      It is a part of  our test of faithfulness.

As we rest in the strength  and peace  of our Savior,  we say,  “Hallelujah!      Lord,  thank You  for taking care of every situation  for us.      You alone  are almighty  in all things  and Your love  is a marvelous blessing.”

Love,
Margaret

 

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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