Don't strike back

The Bible says, 'Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you' (Ephesians 4:32 NKJV). We may say, 'What they did to me was unfair, unkind and unwarranted.' Exactly - and God feels the same way about some of the things we've done, too!

Any attempt to avenge a wrong goes against God's word. This includes bad-mouthing, giving the silent treatment, making sarcastic remarks, refusing to help and resorting to physical or verbal attack. If we've been hurt in the workplace, 'vengeance' includes taking company resources without authorisation, applying workplace rules more strictly to the offending employee than others, and deliberately slowing our pace to frustrate them. If we've been hurt by a loved one, it includes brooding, making them walk on eggshells and withholding love and affection.

The apostle Paul wrote: 'Bless those who persecute you. Bless them, and don't curse them.... Don't pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you. Focus your thoughts on those things that are considered noble.... Scripture says, "I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the Lord"' (Romans 12:14, 17-19 GWT). Repaying evil for evil doesn't bring satisfaction. What if God continued to hold our mistakes over us? Retaliation displeases God and destroys our peace of mind.



So what now? Pray this: 'Father, I release any desire to get even. I want to walk in your peace, extend your grace and allow you to take care of the wrongs done against me. Amen.'





— SCRIPTURE —

'Bless those who persecute you.' Romans 12:14 GWT
— SOULFOOD —

1 Ki 21-22, Mark 10:1-12, Ps 82, Pro 12:18-19