Thoughts for another day

Mar. 21, 2014.

Today's verse:  Rom. 12:19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

Vengeance is deep rooted in man: If anyone comes in our path and wrongs us, the first thing we want to do is to take revenge.  If someone slights us just a little bit, we’ll not rest content until we slight them back.  If a man is usurped by someone else on a flimsy pretext, then he waits until that person is in trouble and then heaps misery on him.  Sometimes I talk to people and when the talk veers to those who have hurt them, their immediate reaction is to take revenge.

Many counselors and others working with people have found one thing common among them; their desire to take revenge is very high and ingrained deeply.  In our Christian walk, revenge must not be our goal as it’s not permissible under the dispensation of love…love of neighbor I might say, even if one is seeking revenge on one’s brother or sister for whatever reason.  It’s easy my friend to be vengeful when you’re hurt but God’s divine nature, which also covers us always seeks to pardon.  Our Scripture today is quite clear on the premise that one is not to seek revenge but rather give up one’s wrath and leave vengeance to God.

Our human nature, which yields more to men than to God, is most ready to seek vengeance at the drop of a hat and destroy those who’ve hurt us.  But Jesus gives us an example in that, despite the insults and pain men inflicted on Him, He prayed to his Father to forgive them under the rationale of them not knowing what they were doing.  Can’t we forgive others their misdoings against us too and get on with life?  Paul suggests that if our enemy is hungry to feed him and if thirsty then give him a drink, so as to impact him with love.  It’s quite difficult given that the whole world craves vengeance, but under the roof of the Lord it’s possible and hence we who follow the Lord must endeavor to forego vengeance and shun wrath, leaving the Lord to deal with the evil others have done to us.  My personal experience has been that God has always solved the problem I have when I left it to Him.