Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, say the Lord. Romans 12:19.
Every one of us at sometime or another has been wronged by someone. Your name has been the center of gossip. Someone stole from you. You were made fun of or the brunt of a joke. Maybe you were betrayed. Possibly cheated on or used. In some form or fashion you have been mistreated and harmed. I would venture to guess it has been more than once and will certainly happen again.
Do you remember your response? How did you handle that situation? Were you reactionary? Did you let your emotions lead you? Did you stop and pray? Was God’s word stirring in your heart?
I must admit, in times past my response would be something like, “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” Maybe even, “just wait and see what happens.” Remember the witch in the Wizard of Oz saying, “I’ll get you my pretty, and your little dog too!” My first response would be a knee-jerk reaction to the pain, anger, and frustration I was experiencing. These behaviors were never godly and contrary to the word.
The truth is, there has never been a good outcome from the retribution I would inflict on others. Maybe there was temporary pleasure but permanent damage. Words once spoken can never be taken back. Even when fences get mended there are permanent scars. We, as unrighteous, sinful people can never be fair and just when tying to get vengeance. We make a mess and make things worse.
God is fair, just, and omniscient. Because He knows everything He has the details and facts of the situation. He is not jaded and bitter. He is an unbiased and fair God. God knows how to execute justice perfectly. There will be no errors and negative effects to regret.
I want to point out that the verse above says, “vengeance belongs to God.” When you decide to pay someone back for what they’ve done to you, you are stealing from the Lord. It doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to God. You have no right or authority to use vengeance. You are now in sin. You have become a thief. You have broken God’s commandment in Exodus 20:15. By ruling with your own hand and inflicting punishment from your own wrath you are stepping into God’s shoes and have now made yourself God. The Bible says, “you shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3. That includes yourself. Don’t try and play God. It won’t work out well.
So what’s my point?
When you seek vengeance and try to repay others you are no better than them. You are angry and act out in wrath because of wrong they have done. In doing so you are now doing wrong to God. They have sinned against you and you then sin against God. How then do you want God to treat you? Would you like God to get you back they same way you were getting others back?
God understands your hurts and sorrows. He is fully aware of anything that happens. He wants to comfort and heal your broken heart. He wants you to bring your problems to Him. He wants you to trust Him for your problems and trust Him for the solution. Listen to the words He says: “I will repay.”
It is our responsibility to become more like Christ. One of the things that changed how I treat others is Christ’s response to his abusers and murderers. While he hung upon the cross he spoke to God and said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:43. He had the power to get revenge and pay them back that very moment, but he talked to God and prayed for his enemies.
So how will you respond the next time someone makes you mad? What will your reaction be to those who do you wrong? Is there bitterness and wrath in your heart towards someone on whom you wish to take vengeance? Do you realize you may need to repent and ask God to forgive you? Are you aware that you are just like the one you are offended with?
I would encourage you to take time today and meditate on this scripture. Journal your thoughts and response to what God has to say to you. Make a commitment to yourself and God that you will trust Him in the future with vengeance. Believe that He is a just and fair God who will repay.
***** Important side not. Seeking help though counselors, lawyers, and police for crimes is not vengeance. The Bible says that government authorities are in place to be a “minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath on him that does evil.” Rom. 13:4. Stopping someone from harming us by using the authorities is healthy and wise.
Sometimes we don’t want to what for the Lord to deal with it. We want it taken care of right away. So it is over with right away. We have to wait on him because it will be done the right way.
Thank you for sharing God’s word and reminding us to allow God to hold vengeance in His Mighty Hands, not our weak and sometimes foolish ones.
I thought this article was so open to the way a person should think in a heart breaking moment,and believe in his word thank you.
Great message!
We all have work to do in this area.
Great word!
I remember going to a Catholic Church every Wednesday night and Sunday morning and listen to the Priest talked about God’s teaching or Jesus teaching. Even in the Catholic school I have attended they also teach the words of God but I never remembered which books or Gospel they are from. One thing I am sure of is that they never really explain the teaching to were a young girl could grasp or understand it. I have lost faith in my religion when I was force to join another church at a very young age. I did not understand why but that is not the reason why I am commenting in this blog. The reason for my comment is that I never really understood Romans 12:19 until I read this blog. I read the bible more often now than ever and still have a hard time understanding. I guess my real problem is not knowing what to ask when I am confused. Sometimes I used google to search some bible verses to understand it a little better but I was told that might not be the best placed to do so. I for sure will read more of your blogs beginning now to get a deeper understanding. Thank you.
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Sometimes we don’t want to what for the Lord to deal with it. We want it taken care of right away. So it is over with right away. We have to wait on him because it will be done the right way.
Thank you for sharing God’s word and reminding us to allow God to hold vengeance in His Mighty Hands, not our weak and sometimes foolish ones.
I thought this article was so open to the way a person should think in a heart breaking moment,and believe in his word thank you.
Great message!
We all have work to do in this area.
Great word!
I remember going to a Catholic Church every Wednesday night and Sunday morning and listen to the Priest talked about God’s teaching or Jesus teaching. Even in the Catholic school I have attended they also teach the words of God but I never remembered which books or Gospel they are from. One thing I am sure of is that they never really explain the teaching to were a young girl could grasp or understand it. I have lost faith in my religion when I was force to join another church at a very young age. I did not understand why but that is not the reason why I am commenting in this blog. The reason for my comment is that I never really understood Romans 12:19 until I read this blog. I read the bible more often now than ever and still have a hard time understanding. I guess my real problem is not knowing what to ask when I am confused. Sometimes I used google to search some bible verses to understand it a little better but I was told that might not be the best placed to do so. I for sure will read more of your blogs beginning now to get a deeper understanding. Thank you.