Romans 12:19-21 - Vengeance Belongs To God.
Romans 12:19-21: Vengeance Belongs To God.
Rom 12:19-21 (NIV) Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave
room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I
will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is
hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In
doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be
overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
COMMENTARY PEARL
Grudge is one of those words that defines itself. Its very
sound betrays its meaning.
Say it slowly: Grr-uuuud-ge.
It starts with a growl. Grr Like a bear with bad
breath coming out of hibernation or a mangy mongrel defending his bone
in an alley. Grrr
Remove a GR from the word grudge and replace it with SL and
you have the junk that grudge bearers trudge through. Sludge. Black,
thick, ankle-deep resentment that steals the bounce from the step. No
joyful skips through the meadows. No healthy hikes up the mountain.
Just day after day of walking into the storm, shoulders bent against
the wind, and feet dragging through all the muck life has
delivered.
Is this the way you are coping with your hurts? Are you
allowing your hurts to turn into hates? If so, ask yourself: Is it
working? Has your hatred done you any good? Has your resentment brought
you any relief, any peace? Has it granted you any joy?
Lets say you get even. Lets say you get him back.
Lets say she gets what she deserves. Lets say your fantasy of fury
runs its ferocious course and you return all your pain with interest.
Imagine yourself standing over the corpse of the one you have hated.
Will you now be free?
The writer of the following letter thought she would be. She
thought her revenge would bring release. But she learned otherwise.
I caught my husband making love to another woman. He swore it
would never happen again. He begged me to forgive him, but I could not
- would not. I was so bitter and so incapable of swallowing my
pride that I could think of nothing but revenge. I was going to make
him pay and pay dearly. Id have my pound of flesh.
I filed for divorce, even though my children begged me not to.
Even after the divorce, my husband tried for two years to win
me back. I refused to have anything to do with him. He had struck
first; now I was striking back. All I wanted was to make him pay.
Finally he gave up and married a lovely young widow with a
couple of small children. He began rebuilding his life - without me.
I see them occasionally, and he looks so happy. They all do.
And here I am - a lonely, old, miserable woman who allowed her
selfish pride and foolish stubbornness to ruin her life.
Unfaithfulness is wrong. Revenge is bad. But the worst part
of all is that, without forgiveness, bitterness is all that is
left.
The state of your heart dictates whether you harbor a grudge
or give grace, seek self-pity or seek Christ, drink human misery or
taste Gods mercy.
No wonder, then, the wise man begs, Above all else, guard
your heart.
Davids prayer should be ours: Create in me a pure
heart, O God. [Max Lucado Daily Devotional at maxlucado.com]
COMMENTARY
A mother says, Im so sorry for abandoning you - could we
possibly get together?
Her daughter thinks to herself, Thats it? She wants to
get together and Im supposed to just forgive her?
Seems too easy. Doesnt mom need to experience what she
gave? Spend a few years wondering if shell see her daughter again?
Some pain-filled nights? A bit of justice? Isnt some vengeance in
order? Of course it is. God cares about justice more than we do.
In Romans 12:17, Paul tells us to never pay back evil for
evil. Leave that to God, for He has said that he will repay those who
deserve it.
We fear the evildoer will slip into the night, unknown and
unpunished. Not to worry. God will repay - not He might repay. God will
execute justice on behalf of truth and fairness. Fix your enemies?
Thats Gods job. Forgive your enemies? Ahh, thats where you and
I come in. We forgive. [Max Lucado Daily Devotional at
maxlucado.com]
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the
contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so
that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9 (TNIV)
To bless others is the very calling of a Christian. As Peter
writes, "Do not repay evil for evil or insult with insult. On the
contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so
that you may inherit a blessing." That's part of the mystery and
beauty of life in Jesus. When you give something of value in His name -
a gift, an insight, a kind word, your time and help, a prayer, a
listening ear - it works its way back to your benefit. But rarely at the
same time or in the same way! Filtered through God's wisdom and
providence, it returns to you as something incredibly encouraging and
helpful at a moment when you least expect it. It may not even be in this
life at all, but it will accrue to your benefit and delight in
heaven. But be assured of this: God is an incomparable bookkeeper, and
He never loses track of one kindness done in the name of His Son.
What a delight! Bless You, Father, for making this a
principle of life: "Give, and it will be given to you pressed down,
shaken together poured into your lap" (Luke 6:38). What a sweetness
to think that gifts given here on earth have a triple impact -
first on the receiver, then on the giver, and then on Jesus Himself!
[A Spectacle of Glory by Joni Eareckson Tada and Larry Libby]
Qne of the most difficult and unnatural ways to demonstrate
our trust in God is to show love to our enemies - to those who
oppose us, who have hurt us deeply, who are slandering us or making our
lives miserable. Aren't we being sufficiently charitable if we simply
ignore them and hope they go away? But to love them? For some of us,
the very thought is revolting. We just don't think we can bring
ourselves to do that. We have no desire to minister to someone who has
opposed and perhaps even wounded us.
But God commands us to love our enemy. That kind of love
shows the world the radical difference that Christ makes in our lives.
Loving our enemies also drives us to depend on the Holy Spirit to a
degree we would never have to if we were called to love only our
friends and family. Finally, showing Christ's love to our enemies
magnifies their guilt and guarantees their just punishment by God if they
don't repent of their sin. When they reject Christ's love in you, they
reject Christ and make their future judgment a certainty. [Being Still
With God Every Day by Henry Blackaby]
We all experience conflict in relationships at times, and
when we do it is important for us to do all we can to restore peace.
Conflict or strife left unattended to can ultimately become a major
problem. The first thing to do in conflict is to examine your own heart
and ask God to reveal your part in the problem. Humble yourself and
do your best to make peace with everyone. Being right is highly
overrated, but the value of peace can never be overrated. If you are angry
with anyone, I urge you to be the peacemaker, for where there is
peace, there is power and Gods anointing.
The peaceful are the powerful! [My Time with God by Joyce
Meyer]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
http://www.abible.com/devotions/1997/19970801-0001.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo [old, but one of the best]
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Musical Devotional On Christian Living:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/
ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Restoring The Power by John Bradshaw:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRogO1SxoZN15Boa7BMon4BouVMdteVaq
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Last Day Prophecy: His Other Sheep by Pastor Gerald Babanezhad:
https://vimeo.com/162267518
