As children we sometimes are lacking in at least one very important quality in our life, and that is the ability to let ourselves be wronged without “returning the favor.” Can you think of a time such as that?
We can all think of the classic example of a school bully on the playground, pushing others down and being just in general very rude and mean. If this ever has happened to you, how did this type of treatment make you feel? Quite often this mistreatment brings about a feeling of anger and a desire to do exactly the same thing back. It fills a person up with the desire to avenge themselves and “pay back” the offender for the wrongs that they have done.
But this is not the Christian way. Christians are not supposed to return evil back for evil. If someone hits you in the face the Christian route is not to walk up to that person and smack them back, because that is not the way of our Lord. It certainly is the feeling that we feel in our carnal man, but we cannot allow that to control our actions. When we “put on Christ” we don’t leave any room for the lust of the flesh to control us.
Romans 13:14 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
Vengeance belongs to the Lord. He is the Judge who will give out the punishments for sin and wrongdoing. It is not our place to avenge ourselves of the sins that are committed against us, because to do that would be to usurp God’s authority, and we certainly do not want to do that. So, like Christ, we need to be able to undergo sufferings and persecution.
How many times was Jesus persecuted by the Pharisees?! How many times did people falsely accuse Him of evil things that He never did? Throughout all of those wrong things that He endured at the hands of others, how many times did Jesus avenge Himself? Zero. He never spoke lies about others who lied about Him. He never sought the death of those who crucified Him on the cross, after He was risen. Our Lord is a God of love, not hate.
Romans 12:17-21 “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
In order for us to resist the urge to avenge ourselves when we are wronged, it takes self control. We need to be able to control our actions so that we do not allow ourselves to “payback” others when they sin against us. Instead, as the Lord teaches, we need to do the exact opposite of what we would normally feel. We need to overcome that evil, overcoming it with good.
Luke 6:27-29 “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.”
Avenge not yourself, but do good. Don’t “return the favor,” but love your enemy, because vengeance belongs to the Lord.
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 