Elul Day 17 - Retaliation or Good for Evil?
Romans 12:19
'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.'
If we choose to retaliate against those who harm us, we are actually stealing from God — because vengeance belongs to Him. Taking it into our own hands is stepping into His role, and that never ends well.
It's natural to want to get even. But we are not called to live naturally — we are called to live supernaturally.
1 Corinthians 2:14
'But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.'
Depending on the Spirit of the Lord is the only way to lay down the desire to retaliate and let Him handle justice.
- Forgive the perpetrator(s).
- Remember: we have all hurt someone.
- Consider Joseph — he had every reason and power to retaliate, but he didn't.
Genesis 50:20
'You meant evil against me, but God intended it for good.'
This is the key: God is working in all our lives. He will bring good if we allow Him to work.
1 Peter 3:9
'Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.'
Only our great God can turn evil into a blessing. Let Him own retaliation.
