Beyond the Weekend

September 1 | Revenge

September 1, 2014

Text: Proverbs 24.28-29

Our desire for revenge comes almost as quickly as the offense: theft of property, public humiliation, damaged reputation, the target of gossip or lying. As soon as we’re aware of the offense, we sense an overwhelming desire to “get even” or as Bob King, Knapp Street Campus pastor, described it, “get the scales back to even.”

Our heart resonates with the author of Proverbs 24.28, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me; I’ll pay them back for what they did.”

It doesn’t take an extended period of thinking and contemplation to come to this conclusion: it happens immediately. This is where our heart instantly goes when someone offends us.

But the writer of Proverbs issues a strong warning to us when we find ourselves in this situation: “Don’t do it.” The first step in responding in a God-honoring way when we’ve been hurt, is to respond in a way totally contrary to our first inclination. In the heat of an emotional situation our first response must be, “Stop. Don’t.”

As you invite God into your day, meditate on Proverbs 24.28-29 and ask him for the wisdom and restraint to “Stop” when you sense you’ve been hurt (especially if you’ve recently been hurt). When the urge for revenge resurfaces, pause and recall these verses to your mind.

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