Revenge!! NOT!
Why do we want to get revenge and why is this even an issue? Because along with pride comes a plethora of emotions that can get out of hand quickly and poorly aimed anger and revenge is one of them. It doesn't lessen the desire to try to get even with someone who has unjustifiedly hurt you though. Since I have been in the ministry for many years you can probably imagine how many times I have been lied about, cheated, slandered, physically attacked, and told to shut up!! There have been many, but God is a constant help in times of trouble. I was under the assumption early in my ministry that all Christians were love and encouragement, but found out the reality of life in a fallen world quickly.
So what do we do with all this hatred and pride-filled animosity? We turn it over to God and pray for Him to fight our battles in life. You don't have to be a full-time called minister to experience hatred from other individuals who are bent on getting their way and will attack to get it. God calls us to love and not hate. We hate sin, not the sinner. That is not the easiest thing to do though when we have to face the music of evil.
If anyone knows about being attacked it is the Apostle Paul, but he knew who was fighting his battles for him and relied on God to have his back. And God did have his back. Paul wrote the following words in Romans 12:19 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. Once again, Paul's words bring us back to the center. Leave it to God! God will do a better job at revenge than I will anyway and time will tell as to what He does and the severity of it.
On the other hand, we are to pursue love and all of its wonders. If you are a believer, a true believer you will pursue love. 1 John 4:8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. One of the fruits of God's righteousness in a believer's life is the capacity to love beyond what we think can love. This brings up another point. If you are trying to live your life by being a "good" person, you will fail every time. If you allow the righteousness of God to rule in your life, you will find a fresh perspective on life you never thought possible. The heart of love will rule in your life and the capacity to show that love will dominate your soul and the effect will be far-reaching. Leave fighting your life battles to be handled by God and He will lead you to keep loving because that is who He is.
LOVE! This at times seems totally impossible, but it is also an indicator of how the sanctification process is going in your life.
So Revenge! NOT! Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12 about a "thorn in the flesh" and his concluision was the following verse. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. I am not looking for trouble but when trouble and hatefulness comes my way I give up the fight and let God handle my problem and He takes this weak man and fights my battles for me. Remember, David did not attack Saul because Saul was one of God's anointed because he understood God is in control. By the way, God is a really great fighter, so watch out !! He brought down an empire to get His people out of the bondage of Pharoah and the carnage that was left was horrendous. Hebrews 10:31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Just Sayin...
The Pilgrimage Continues
David Warren