Revenge defined - verb - to exact punishment or expiation for a wrong on behalf of, esp. in a resentful or vindictive spirit: ex. He revenged his murdered brother.
I got into a conversation today about revenge. The movie "Edge of Darkness" with Mel Gibson stimulated the discussion. The main idea was that if someone or some group of people had killed someone that you were close to and truly loved, would you execute revenge upon them? First off I would say that fortunately God has not allowed me to walk through the trial of having a violent crime committed against me. I do not speak from experience, only the way that I believe God desires for me to react in this situation. I believe that this is a great question because it touches a deep part of our soul that longs for justice to be executed against those who have wronged us. I personally don't believe that the desire for justice is wrong, however, we, as fallen human's, can't deal out justice fairly. That's why God wants us to leave it up to Him. When Jesus tells us to forgive our enemies (Matt. 5:44, Luke 6:27 being two examples), where does that leave someone that brutally murdered your son, daughter, father, mother, brother, sister, wife, or husband? There are many teaching on the subject of forgiveness, but the main point of this post is to unpack revenge and what it means in our life.
The obvious benefit of revenge is that I receive immediate justice for the wrong committed against me and my loved one. However, is that beneficial? Unless you know who committed the wrong against you or your loved one then the hate and hope for revenge that is harbored inside your heart with eat at you for the rest of your life. You will not be free and the evil person that hurt your loved one now has two victims. Forgiveness releases you from the burden of hate and lays it at Jesus' feet.
Found an article on revenge at www.gotquestions.com. The article is posted below.
Question: "What does the Bible say about revenge?"
Answer: The Bible has a great deal to say about revenge. Both the Hebrew and Greek words translated “vengeance,” “revenge,” and “avenge” have as their root meaning the idea of punishment. This is crucial in understanding why God reserves for Himself the right to avenge.
The key verse regarding this truth is found in the Old Testament and quoted twice in the New Testament. God said: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them” (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30). In Deuteronomy, God is speaking of the stiff-necked, rebellious, idolatrous Israelites who rejected Him and incurred His wrath with their wickedness. He promised to avenge Himself upon them in His own timing and according to His own perfect and pure motives. The two New Testament passages concern the behavior of the Christian, who is not to usurp God’s authority. Rather, we are to allow Him to judge rightly and pour out His divine retribution against His enemies as He sees fit.
Unlike us, God never takes vengeance from impure motives. His vengeance is for the purpose of punishing those who have offended and rejected Him. We can, however, pray for God to avenge Himself in perfection and holiness against His enemies and to avenge those who are oppressed by evil. In Psalm 94:1, the psalmist prays for God to avenge the righteous, not out of a sense of uncontrolled vindictiveness, but out of just retribution from the eternal Judge whose judgments are perfect. Even when the innocent suffer and the wicked appear to prosper, it is for God alone to punish. “The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies” (Nahum 1:2).
There are only two times in the Bible when God gives men permission to avenge in His name. First, after committing hideous, violent acts against the Israelites, the cup of God’s wrath against the Midianites was full, and He commanded Moses to lead the people in a holy war against them. “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people’" (Numbers 31:1-2). Here again, Moses did not act on his own; he was merely an instrument to carry out God’s perfect plan under His guidance and instruction. Second, Christians are to be in submission to the rulers God has set over us because they are His instruments for “vengeance on evildoers” (1 Peter 2:13-14). As in Moses’ case, these rulers are not to act on their own, but are to carry out God’s will for the punishment of the wicked.
It is tempting to try to take on the role of God and seek to punish those who we feel deserve it. But because we are sinful creatures, it is impossible for us to take revenge with pure motives. This is why the Mosaic Law contains the command: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD” (Leviticus. 19:18). Even David, a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14), refused to take revenge on Saul, even though David was the innocent party being wronged. David submitted to God's command to forego vengeance and trust in Him: “May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you (1 Samuel 24:12).
As Christians, we are to follow the Lord Jesus’ command to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44), leaving the vengeance to God.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
The Comforter
Oh! it must have been sweet to have lived with Christ. Surely, sorrows
were then but joys in masks, because they gave an opportunity to go to
Jesus to have them removed. Oh! would to God, some of us may say, that
we could have lain our weary heads upon the bosom of Jesus, and that
our birth had been in that happy era, when we might have heard His
kind voice, when he said, "Let the weary ones come unto me." But hear
how kindly Jesus speaks: "I will not leave you comfortless, for I will
pray the Father, and He will send you another Comforter, that He may
abide with you forever." (Charles Spurgeon)
were then but joys in masks, because they gave an opportunity to go to
Jesus to have them removed. Oh! would to God, some of us may say, that
we could have lain our weary heads upon the bosom of Jesus, and that
our birth had been in that happy era, when we might have heard His
kind voice, when he said, "Let the weary ones come unto me." But hear
how kindly Jesus speaks: "I will not leave you comfortless, for I will
pray the Father, and He will send you another Comforter, that He may
abide with you forever." (Charles Spurgeon)
Sunday, January 31, 2010
The Holy Spirit
God's Holy Spirit and man's sin cannot live together peaceably; they may both be in the same heart, but they cannot both reign there, nor can they both be quiet there; for "the Spirit lusteth against the flesh, and the flesh lusteth against the Spirit; "they, cannot rest, but there will be a perpetual warring in the soul, so that the Christian will have to cry, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" But in due time: the Spirit will drive out all sin, and will present us blameless before the throne of His Majesty with exceeding great joy. (Charles Spurgeon)
Hope in Christ! This world cannot bring us down. This world is not our final resting place. We are strangers in a foreign land. Live in the world but do not be of the world. We are more than victors through Christ Jesus who lives in us!
Hope in Christ! This world cannot bring us down. This world is not our final resting place. We are strangers in a foreign land. Live in the world but do not be of the world. We are more than victors through Christ Jesus who lives in us!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Power of the Resurrection
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 53:1-5
Key Verse: Isaiah 53:5 - But He was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
When a dear and faithful servant of the church learned of his terminal illness, he requested that the headstone upon his grave bear the words of 1 Corinthians 15:55: “O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?”. This man’s faith allowed him to claim these words before he passed away.
The verses following this passage explain his confidence: “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)
Not only did Jesus bear the weight of our sins upon the cross, He also accepted and withstood the pain of death. In one miraculous event, He changed the process of dying. No longer would His creation have to experience the fear, anguish, and pain associated with death. His sacrifice established a choice for us all - eternal life or eternal death.
Why would someone choose eternal death? We cannot know. Is it so difficult to believe in the power of God and the event of Jesus’ resurrection? For some, it must be.
As you consider the specific events that occurred upon the cross, thank Jesus for freeing you from the pain of death, and pray for those who refuse to acknowledge Him.
Thank You, Lord, that Your resurrection quieted the sting of death and that I have been set free because of Your sacrifice.
by: Charles F. Stanley
Key Verse: Isaiah 53:5 - But He was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
When a dear and faithful servant of the church learned of his terminal illness, he requested that the headstone upon his grave bear the words of 1 Corinthians 15:55: “O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?”. This man’s faith allowed him to claim these words before he passed away.
The verses following this passage explain his confidence: “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)
Not only did Jesus bear the weight of our sins upon the cross, He also accepted and withstood the pain of death. In one miraculous event, He changed the process of dying. No longer would His creation have to experience the fear, anguish, and pain associated with death. His sacrifice established a choice for us all - eternal life or eternal death.
Why would someone choose eternal death? We cannot know. Is it so difficult to believe in the power of God and the event of Jesus’ resurrection? For some, it must be.
As you consider the specific events that occurred upon the cross, thank Jesus for freeing you from the pain of death, and pray for those who refuse to acknowledge Him.
Thank You, Lord, that Your resurrection quieted the sting of death and that I have been set free because of Your sacrifice.
by: Charles F. Stanley
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Love is not God, but God is love.
God is love in its highest degree. He is love rendered more than love. Love is not God, but God is love; He is full of grace, He is the plenitude of mercy - He delighteth in mercy. I believe that every flower in a garden, which is tended by a wise gardener, could tell of some particular care that the gardener takes of it. He does for the dahlia what he does not for the sunflower; somewhat is wanted by the rose that is not required by the lily; and the geranium calls for an attention which is not given to the honeysuckle. Each flower wins from the gardener a special culture. He loves us better than we love ourselves. (Charles Spurgeon)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Communion With God
"Jesus answered and said, I thank Thee, O Father." It was the habit
and life of Jesus to talk with God. May we likewise have silent
fellowship with the Father, so that often we may answer Him, and
though the world wotteth not to whom we speak, may we be responding to
that secret voice unheard of any other ear, which our own ear, opened
by the Spirit of God, recognizes with joy. What a privilege is
intimate communion with the Father of our spirits! It is a secret
hidden from the world, a joy with which even the nearest friend
intermeddleth not. This very day may our hearts be in such a state,
that when God speaks to us, we, like Jesus, may be prepared at once to
answer Him." (Charles Spurgeon)
and life of Jesus to talk with God. May we likewise have silent
fellowship with the Father, so that often we may answer Him, and
though the world wotteth not to whom we speak, may we be responding to
that secret voice unheard of any other ear, which our own ear, opened
by the Spirit of God, recognizes with joy. What a privilege is
intimate communion with the Father of our spirits! It is a secret
hidden from the world, a joy with which even the nearest friend
intermeddleth not. This very day may our hearts be in such a state,
that when God speaks to us, we, like Jesus, may be prepared at once to
answer Him." (Charles Spurgeon)
The Greatest Commandments
This is a journal entry I made on January 13, 2010.
"Today is the date when multiple recovery efforts were mobilized for a devastating series of earthquakes that ravaged portions of Haiti. As I sit here in my recliner with a roof over my head, my stomach full, and the warm sunshine pouring in it feels like paradise. However, not very far away, one of the poorest countries in the world experienced one of the worst earthquakes ever. The death toll is at 100,000 and rising.
"The most important commandment is this.....And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31)
How deep and all encompassing are these commands! These commands are big enough to guide and direct your entire life. Jesus help me! Help me fully and completely keep these commandments. I need Your help, Jesus, to do it for sin pulls at my desires daily. Let my desire be to love You and to love others with Your love."
Today, as Haiti contiues to recover, what have you done to love God with all of your being? In turn, what have you done to love your neighbor as you so generously love yourself. I'm talking to myself as well for I struggle with this all the time. We, as Christians, must be melted and moved by the love of the Father. We must see each individual we come across as Christ Himself. How different we would act if that was our viewpoint! Don't just imagine what could be. Act! Act on the love that the Father has shown to you. Then people will see that it is God loving on them and not you. All glory goes to God alone for what He has done through Jesus Christ! His death is our death, and His life is our life.
"Today is the date when multiple recovery efforts were mobilized for a devastating series of earthquakes that ravaged portions of Haiti. As I sit here in my recliner with a roof over my head, my stomach full, and the warm sunshine pouring in it feels like paradise. However, not very far away, one of the poorest countries in the world experienced one of the worst earthquakes ever. The death toll is at 100,000 and rising.
"The most important commandment is this.....And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31)
How deep and all encompassing are these commands! These commands are big enough to guide and direct your entire life. Jesus help me! Help me fully and completely keep these commandments. I need Your help, Jesus, to do it for sin pulls at my desires daily. Let my desire be to love You and to love others with Your love."
Today, as Haiti contiues to recover, what have you done to love God with all of your being? In turn, what have you done to love your neighbor as you so generously love yourself. I'm talking to myself as well for I struggle with this all the time. We, as Christians, must be melted and moved by the love of the Father. We must see each individual we come across as Christ Himself. How different we would act if that was our viewpoint! Don't just imagine what could be. Act! Act on the love that the Father has shown to you. Then people will see that it is God loving on them and not you. All glory goes to God alone for what He has done through Jesus Christ! His death is our death, and His life is our life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
