ODJ: desire for vengeance
December 28, 2011
Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good (v.21).
READ: Romans 12:14-21
I once spoke with a father whose son had been brutally murdered by a family friend. In the years that followed, he talked of his burning desire for revenge. He knew that bitterness had overtaken his heart and crowded out that which was good. Although he wanted to turn this festering burden over to Jesus, he struggled with letting go.
One of the things God put on my heart to share with this man initially shocked him, but it also freed him up to see that he had other options. I told him that his desire for revenge was not completely off target and unchristian. I then reminded him of these words that the apostle Paul wrote to fellow believers in Jesus, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).
Paul’s statement is a surprising promise for revenge. In other words, the apostle was encouraging his readers to be patient because they were going to have their day when vengeance would be God’s . . . and theirs. A time is coming when all believers will have the opportunity to make Satan (who is indirectly and ultimately responsible for all of the evils in life) pay under our feet.
Part of the desire to take revenge is godly, as long as it’s based in God’s righteousness and His timing. In the meantime, He calls us to leave revenge up to Him (12:19) and to work toward conquering evil by “doing good” to those who deeply harm us (v.21). This might include blessing them with the gift of noncondemnation or showing tough love that forces them to own the harm of their sinful choices. Our goal? To help others overcome evil in their lives and to prevent the evil of bitterness from overtaking ours. —Jeff Olson
Without pretending that nothing happened, how can you do what is good for a person who has deeply hurt you? How can doing good to those who have hurt you be a sample of God’s mercy and justice?
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