GOD’S PAYBACK

“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the Lord.^[1]”  -  Romans 12:19 New Living Translation

     Did you know that revenge against someone who has hurt you will not remove your feelings of pain? Only forgiveness can do that. Some feel that getting back at someone who has hurt you in some way is satisfying, but if it is it’s only for a brief time. The one who hurt you may retaliate further causing a never-ending cycle that will lead to bitterness and resentment. This is not what God wants for us. This is why he gives the instruction to leave revenge to him. It is his place to take care of such things.

     The reason it is better for God to take revenge for us is because his revenge is fueled by righteous anger. Sin breeds evil and God hates that which is evil. Man acts and reacts many times based on his feelings at the time and can overreact to that which he feels is an injustice against him. We are not to do anything but forgive and love the individual. It’s what makes us different than the world.
     If the world will know we are Christians by our love for our brethren, how much greater will our testimony be if we show love and forgiveness to those outside our faith who have done us wrong. Retaliation is human, a normal response for those who are ignorant of God’s character. If we place the hurt into God’s hands and leave it there we will be much more at peace. This is what the Bible refers to as “the peace that passes all understanding”^[2].

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

^[1] Deuteronomy 32:35  - “I will take revenge; I will pay them back. In due time their feet will slip. Their day of disaster will arrive,
and their destiny will overtake them.”

^[2] Philippians 4:7