Avoid Revenge
Practical teaching is always good for us to hold on to, and the New Testament is full of it. Read the New Testament and you’ll see, day after day, practical advice from the writers to help you. And I do pray that what we've learned this week has shown us practical ways that we can strive to do what is good.
Paul said those four things in verse 14: Warn the idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. And in verse 15, he says, “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong.”
Christian Teachings on Non-Retaliation and Love for Enemies
Doesn't this sound a lot like Jesus? He said instead of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, we should not resist evil people. We should love our enemies. Paul told the Romans the same thing in Romans 12:17 – “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Do not take revenge,” he said to them, “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,” Paul says, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he's thirsty, give him something to drink.” Instead of paying people back, we love them even though they've hurt us.
And this is so difficult for us! We love those TV shows, don't we? Like “Revenge” and shows like it where people who did bad get what's coming. But Paul says, “leave it to God.”
Embracing Forgiveness and Grace in Jesus
Do you know why we must leave it to God friends? Because maybe the person who hurt you truly finds God's forgiveness and grace. Maybe they truly repent of what they've done and are saved from their sins by God the gracious one. You see, Jesus died even for those who've hurt us. Have you ever thought about that before? Jesus died even for those who've hurt us. And if they repent and go to him, they will find forgiveness at the cross. Because Jesus death covers their sins against you and I, too.
And so instead of seeking revenge, do good. In fact Paul says, “Don't pay back wrong for wrong, but strive to do what is good.” And so I pray that you and I will strive to do what is good in the name of Jesus. Even releasing those who've hurt us to Him, praying that they encounter the grace of God who died for them.
