PENnED

Read: Romans 12:9-21

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 

There is so much going on in this passage. I choose the verses above to be our focus because what they express seems to pose the greatest challenge, at least to me. Immediately after reading v. 17 my thoughts race to find some of the worst examples of the evil deeds that people can do and have done to believers. The pictures that come to mind are those of believers who were tortured and murdered for their faith. If I were the father or brother of one of those killed, would I be able to control myself and not take revenge?

Most believers would probably easily say yes. But not me! Perhaps I am not as strong as others. Even just an insult is already hard for me to take. However, I believe that by the grace of God I, or any believer, can do what the Scripture says.

I can’t, but by the grace of God, I can.