day 213: Revenge

Proverbs 20:22

Don't say, "I will get even for this wrong."

Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.

*******************

Someone does something to you...

They...

*Steal your sandwich at lunch

*Spread an ugly rumor about you

*Cut you off when you are driving

*Bump into you in line at the store

(or worse)

**hurts your kid

**causes some thing bad to happen to you (ie; cause you from getting a promotion)

**harms someone you love

Basic human nature is to get back at them. A lot of times our first instinct (to even the most minor offense) is to get some sort of revenge.

 

Lots of people love to live by the Old Testament "An Eye for an Eye" (Exodus 21:24). That's one verse people can remember.

(They tend to forget about what Jesus said about it...

"But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (NIV)) Revenge isn't so sweet and isn't all it's cracked up to be. If you are like me, you feel bad about trying to 'out do' someone. God will handle the matter... the kicker is He won't deal with it like we would. God is all about love. Instead of 'revenge', He may use the experience to bring them closer to Him (we never know). When someone bothers us and we just want to get them back, stop and pray about it. In the end, we are all responsible for our own actions-- no matter how justified we think they are. If you are having trouble with this, pray about it. Ask God to turn your need for revenge into something postive for both you and the other person. God Bless You ~Kelly