Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honourable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
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” (Rom 12:17-19).
My last blog was about the violence that exists in this world and it stands to reason that at some stage you have been subjected to some of this violence. Bad things do happen to good people. You didn’t ask to be a victim of abuse, pain, fear, anxiety or hate and something inside of you wants to make the person who hurt you suffer as you have suffered.
But revenge won’t work! When people choose to follow the devil and his wicked ways and refuse to follow God, they are used by the devil to do evil to others. When you choose to forgive them, not because they deserve your forgiveness, but because you want to be free of your emotional prison, the torment and bad memories, then you will fulfil your destiny and be all that you were created to be. What’s more, when you forgive, God forgives you of your own sins.
Here are some questions to probe deep inside your heart to find out if there is damaging unforgiveness there.
Do I see myself as a victim? Who do I secretly hate? Am I carrying a dead soul, mind and emotions? Am I bound to the person who has caused me pain and hurt? Who do I want revenge on?
Here is a thought that you will really need to think over: Have I really been blaming God for my hurt and pain? Do you see God as your problem and not your hope and answer? Take a step of faith and repent of these wrong thoughts and forgive your tormenter and yourself and put your trust in God alone.
Here’s James with the last word on anger and bitterness:
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires (Jas 1:19-20).
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*All quotes from NLT.