Romans 12:17-20 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 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. On the contrary: ” If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head”  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

It’s not easy to sit back and let God handle a situation where someone has wronged us.  We want to handle that on our own.  We want to get them back and teach them a thing or two.  We especially want to teach them not to mess with us.

But that’s not what the Bible says for us to do.  I have learned that when I give that over to God, that often times the punishment he inflicts on an evil person is far worse than anything thing I could have or would have done.  God’s wrath is nothing to play with.

It’s even harder to be kind to that person and help them in their time of need, but that’s just what God tells us to do in Romans 12:20.  We are also instructed to do so in Proverbs 25:21.

We are to focus on doing what is right.  God will focus on exacting revenge to those who have brought evil deeds against his children.

Think of it this way, as Christians we are called to a higher standard.  If someone commits evil deeds against us, and we repay them with evil, then we have stooped to their level. As Christians, we also destroy our witness.  Simply put, we bring joy to the devil as we have sunk to his level.

Remember, God is far more powerful than Satan.  God always wins.  So the next time someone commits an evil act against you, bring it to God and let Him handle it.  Do your job as a Christian by doing your best to get along with everyone and being a shining example of goodness.  This keeps your witness strong and brings glory to God.

I think often times the reason that we take matters into our own hands is that we feel that to not retaliate makes us look weak.  Consider this though, what is easier repaying evil for evil or doing good to those who try to harm you?  It is much more difficult to be kind to those who have acted against you.  So actually, it takes a much stronger person to do it God’s way.  So as you go through this day, stand strong in God!