Revenge
A lot of messages and mails we get concern revenge. Getting back at someone for something they did either to you or to someone you know. The thinking being if they hurt me I'll hurt them and then we're even. But it doesn't work that way. Instead of ending the cycle it escalates it and goes on and on causing more pain, hurt and destruction.
So as we get asked so often we thought we'd take a look at the Bible to see what it says about revenge.
Romans 12:19 hits us with "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
Some old English there so what's it saying? Well, it says don't take revenge yourself but leave room for the anger of God in the situation. He says at the end that revenge is God's alone and he will repay it.
As tough as it makes it for us it means we need to step away from the situation and let God deal with it. He sees what goes on, he sees the wrong that has been done and he is capable of giving out righteous justice. At the same time we are blameless and have acted in a Godly fashion.
When the temptation for revenge comes on you step back and think, pray to God and tell him about the situation and then leave it in God's hands. He has promised to take care of it.
Romans 12:17 says "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men."
Do not pay back evil for evil, do what is lawful in the sight of men.
Proverbs 25 has a lot to say about how to treat your enemy and turn it to your benefit.
25:21 If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:
25:22. For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.
Romans 12:21 is almost the same "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. "
Strange as it seems this calls on us to bless our enemies. The "heaping coals" is not a punishment but means not only feeding your enemy but giving him the means to cook also.
It's an easy thing for us to love those we like, loving someone who has done us wrong is tough but it is what we have been called to do...
By behaving in this way we not only leave revenge to God but we give our enemies pause to think and the opportunity for them to reflect on the wrong they have done and begin to make change in their lives.
We see the cycle of violence on the streets every day we see the way things are going right now it will never end. Change starts with one person and goes from there. Revenge is not ours and is never the way to go. It's down to you.
Can you break the cycle and bring peace?
So as we get asked so often we thought we'd take a look at the Bible to see what it says about revenge.
Romans 12:19 hits us with "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
Some old English there so what's it saying? Well, it says don't take revenge yourself but leave room for the anger of God in the situation. He says at the end that revenge is God's alone and he will repay it.
As tough as it makes it for us it means we need to step away from the situation and let God deal with it. He sees what goes on, he sees the wrong that has been done and he is capable of giving out righteous justice. At the same time we are blameless and have acted in a Godly fashion.
When the temptation for revenge comes on you step back and think, pray to God and tell him about the situation and then leave it in God's hands. He has promised to take care of it.
Romans 12:17 says "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men."
Do not pay back evil for evil, do what is lawful in the sight of men.
Proverbs 25 has a lot to say about how to treat your enemy and turn it to your benefit.
25:21 If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:
25:22. For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.
Romans 12:21 is almost the same "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. "
Strange as it seems this calls on us to bless our enemies. The "heaping coals" is not a punishment but means not only feeding your enemy but giving him the means to cook also.
It's an easy thing for us to love those we like, loving someone who has done us wrong is tough but it is what we have been called to do...
By behaving in this way we not only leave revenge to God but we give our enemies pause to think and the opportunity for them to reflect on the wrong they have done and begin to make change in their lives.
We see the cycle of violence on the streets every day we see the way things are going right now it will never end. Change starts with one person and goes from there. Revenge is not ours and is never the way to go. It's down to you.
Can you break the cycle and bring peace?
posted by Streetgangs Style at 7:38 AM
1 Comments:
"A lot of messages and mails we get concern revenge. Getting back at someone for something they did either to you or to someone you know. The thinking being if they hurt me I'll hurt them and then we're even. But it doesn't work that way. Instead of ending the cycle it escalates it and goes on and on causing more pain, hurt and destruction."
That's exactly why there's all this violence in the gang world. And not just there -- look at the Middle East.
Good post -- sorry it took so long to comment on it.
Hey, try opening up links to your posts. It will get more traffic in here.
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