November 18, 2020
Have you ever been harmed by someone? Have you ever had something stolen from you? Have you ever been cut off by someone in traffic, or tailgated while you are driving the speed limit? Have you had a friend experience any of these things? I have experienced most of these things. What did you want to do about it? Sometimes, I would wish that bad things would happen to them. Have you wished that bad things would happen to your offender like I did? Was that the right attitude to have? If no, then why not? Let us find out about what the answer might be.
It is clear in several passages both in the Old and New Testaments that we are not to take vengeance on people. Starting in Leviticus 19:17:18 we read, “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” (ESV) Wow! How do we do this and is there a time when you stop loving your neighbor? I know for me, the only way I can do this is with the help of the Holy Spirit. I can find no place in the Holy Bible where it tells us to stop loving our neighbors. But in 1 Corinthians 13, it describes love and let us see what it says in verse 6, “it (love) does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.” (ESV) I take this to mean that when someone does something wrong to you, you should not rejoice about the wrongdoing. I would go so far as to also take the position that it is okay to point out the wrongdoing and try to teach them how to avoid doing it again. This should never include the concept that because they did this thing that God is going to do something to them, like send them to hell.
Okay I get it, but what if something evil happens to you? Are you still not supposed to seek vengeance? The answer seems to be the same. Are you satisfied with the option of not getting vengeance for the harm that occurred? I know I struggle with this at times. But it is clear in the Holy Bible that I am not to seek vengeance. I should be asking another question, like, can I seek justice? I can have someone arrested for a crime and tried by a jury. Or I can choose not to seek justice and I could just forgive. In order to be satisfied with not seeking vengeance I need to know how I will be avenged for by the person who hurt me. The Holy Bible is clear about how I will be avenged. It tells me that God will be my avenger. Proverbs 20:22 says, “Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you.” (ESV) Romans 12:19 also says something similar, “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.'” (ESV) Knowing the God will be my avenger brings me hope, because I know that I will receive justice. I know that I do not have to seek vengeance and stoop to the level of the person who abused or violated me in some way> How about you?
I know that it is difficult not to want revenge when someone harms you or someone you love but The Holy Bible is clear, it is not our place it is God’s place to avenge the wrongs that are done to us. I believe in order for us to be comfortable with this is to have a relationship with the Living God. The only way for us to have that relationship is through His Son Jesus Christ. Need to know how? Find out here!
You can find my book, Hope Amid Hopelessness: Our Abba Father Provides a Way Through Mental Illness here.
eBook or Audiobook versions can be found at Westbow Press or Christianbook.com at Amazon or Google
