Revenge

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21 ESV). Mary and I have stumbled on to a television series that evidently has been on air for quite some time. It is titled Revenge. Mentioning this series is not an endorsement for it, though it has been intriguing to watch some of the episodes. The formal description given for the series says: “Wealth, beauty and status define the people who live in the Hamptons. But one woman seeking revenge could destroy it all. Emily Thorne lived in the Hamptons until an incident ruined her family and their reputation, forcing them out of town. Years later, she has returned to her old neighborhood, blending in with the citizens and making friends, not letting on that she has lived there before. In an effort to right some of the past wrongs, she plans vengeance on those who wronged her and her family -- and she doesn't care at what cost.” I can say it is an adult drama that has many plot twists and villains abound! It has been nominated for numerous awards and won several very prestigious awards for both the series and individual actors in it. It seems to capitalize on an American culture that is filled with stories of revenge. We see and hear messages that affirm our desire to repay evil with evil from many sources. This thought that the ends justify the means permeates both reality and fiction in our country today. But God has a different message. God says to leave the revenge to him. We are to turn the other cheek. We are to live at peace. Justice in God’s eyes is to repay evil not with like retribution on our part, but with grace and mercy. When it comes to revenge, it is easy to get caught up in the idea that we are doing only what “needs to be done.” Perhaps we don’t trust God to bring about peace, and we feel we must take the matter into our own hands. But God never says anything about the ends justifying the means. We are not to be overcome by evil. We are to overcome evil with good. Today spend some thought about that someone in your life that has been particularly troublesome to you. It may be a family member or a friend who has wronged you with rejection, slander, or hurt. Pray for them. Pray that God would bring both forgiveness and peace to your heart toward them. Pray that God might give you an opportunity to settle the rift that has grown between you. The relationship may never be completely returned as it was, but it can be restored in Christ. Pray that God would deal with whatever issues there may have arisen as a result. Let God bring judgment. He is the only one capable of doing that correctly and justly.