No Revenge

TODAY’S VERSE
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God.
Romans 12:19 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Revenge. What a toxic emotion. What a deceptive motive. It is so easy to slip into this deadly trap. It starts with a wound. Perhaps a deep hurt, humiliation or betrayal. Life isn’t fair, but this is just too much! Soon our wound festers and anger becomes an obsession. But what makes revenge so deceptive is that we don’t have to murder someone to get revenge. Instead, we feel justified in slandering the person, shunning them, campaigning against something they are doing or a million other ways of getting nasty. But this is not revenge. It is getting even, or giving them what they deserve, or settling the score. No, it is revenge. It is hard not to go there. What can we do? Paul shares the only thing we can do. Let go. Give it to God. Let Him take over your case. The author of Hebrews was serious when he wrote, “Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” Today, follow that advice. Let God search your heart and then pull out any bitter root that has taken ground in your emotions. Don’t let a wound fester into something worse.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, search my heart. Show me any toxic bitterness I may have. Show me any attitude or behavior of revenge. Forgive me and help me change my attitude. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN