Maybe today you want the personal defense attorney Jesus. You know, the one who will take your side, argue your case, and make sure that anyone who’s ever done you wrong finally gets what’s coming to them. Problem is, he’s not your courtroom lawyer on retainer. He’s your sovereign savior, king. All right, before we dive in, make sure to subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode that will strengthen your faith and fill your heart with courage for the days ahead.
So, who hasn’t wanted vengeance at some point in your life? I think God actually builds into every one of us a desire for justice, and that’s good. It’s part of God’s image in us. But when we experience injustice coming at us, our impulse is to then take matters into our own hands. I mean, you see it in a little kid.
He gets hit, he wants to hit right back. You see it in a teenager. If she’s embarrassed by a friend, then she starts plotting a little public revenge. You see it in marriages. One spouse goes silent for days, freezing the other one out just to make them feel it. It seems like we find it easier to make war than to make peace.
And deep down, we sometimes wish that God would take up the fight and make war on our enemies, too. Enter the Apostle Paul with a command that cuts right against human instincts in Romans 12:es 14- 21. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them. Pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy and weep with those who weep.
Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people and don’t think you know it all. Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. 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. Instead, if your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they’re thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.
Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. That’s not weakness or naive Christianity. That is spiritual strength from the mouth of God. It’s the kind of power that actually only comes from knowing that God himself will write every wrong. And that takes faith and he does it his way and in his time.
So when Paul says, “Leave it to the wrath of God,” he’s saying, “Stop trying to be God’s defense team,” you don’t need personal defense attorney, Jesus, because you’ve already got a perfect judge, who sees the truth, sees the motive, the motive of the heart, and he understands the whole story. God never promised you and me that he would avenge us on our schedule.
He never said that you and I would get to witness his justice unfold real time. And he won’t trade his mercy for our sense of timing. But he did promise this. He says that he will repay. He will write every wrong. And that should bring deep rest to our hearts and to our souls. I mean the truth is I want God to show mercy to me.
I don’t want him to be quick to vengeance when I wrong somebody. You and I don’t need to control the outcome. You don’t have to keep score. You just have to trust that God never loses a case. Okay. So then, while we wait on God, what are we supposed to do while God handles justice? Well, Paul gives us three clear directives.
One, never repay evil for evil. Two, work to live in peace with everyone. And three, overcome evil with good. That’s not weakness. That’s power. That’s true strength. That’s warfare of a different kind. Because when you and I refuse revenge, we’re declaring our allegiance to a higher kingdom. We’re saying, “I trust God’s verdict more than my own vengeance. he will repay.
