“21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” 1 Peter 2:21-23. (If I were you, I would read all of this chapter from 1 Peter).
This has got to be one of the hardest concepts to grasp and even harder to put into practice. Ugh! To not revile or threaten when treated despicably is counterintuitive for humans and counter cultural in a “get-even” world. But, really, there is no such thing as “getting even.” It just flat out doesn’t work. Without exception, revenge does not seek justice it seeks excessive pain and punishment on the other party that goes beyond any semblance of equity. But there is something about it that we humans love. In the movies and TV, we love it when someone gets what is coming to them (at least in our judgment anyway).
But God asks us not to seek it. We are going to hear from four different people in the Bible who are all telling us the same thing. Peter, Jesus, Paul, and David. That’s a pretty good list.
First, we are given an example in Jesus. Peter tells us how Jesus handled being abused, mocked, attacked, condemned, judged, and humiliated without retaliation. We know this about Jesus from his life, ministry, and crucifixion. And Peter would certainly know first-hand since he knew Jesus well during his ministry and spent a considerable amount of time with him after his resurrection. In addition, we have this principle in Jesus own words.
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, (Luke 6:27). some translations of this verse say, “bless those who curse you.” And here’s Paul:
“When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;” 1 Corinthians 4:12b.
And David:
Let them curse, but you will bless! They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad! Psalm 109:28.
Second, we been called to do it. We have been called to love and forgiveness not retaliation. I gott tell you, most of the time I don’t feel like letting go of what I believe is my right to retaliate. But this retaliatory mindset has taken over our country in many ways. It’s appalling what some of us say and do when we are angry with someone. “Hello, Old Adam. Hello dark side. Hello, flesh.” (Even Yoda warned Luke Skywalker about it). Again, that’s not what we as Christians are to be about.
Third, here’s what it looks like today. It shows up in the rumor mill, the break room at work, political jabbing, holding grudges, and bringing someone down a peg in churches and marriages. If any of those examples make you say “ouch” good, you’re being honest. What can I say, sometimes the truth isn’t warm and fluffy. But take heart, from reading the Bible it is easy to see that this has always been a significant problem and is one of the hardest things to implement in the Christian life. So, how do we do this?
Look at verse 23b, “But continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” There’s your answer! Vengeance has always been God’s business because he is the only one who is qualified to judge justly. Jesus is the only one who never sinned and is perfect like the Father. That is why we hold to the tenet that God is holy and righteous.
Would you want to trust justice to anyone else? You and I make a mess of it even when we try our best. So, you see, the nature of God makes it possible for us to live, as fallen image bearers, in an assurance that everything will be resolved and made right in the end. We have to let go of the revenge we want and instead trust that God will eventually take care of that person or issue that has wronged us. So, revenge is not our business but here is what is.
Entrusting ourselves, our agendas, our hurts, and our injustices to God – there it is, and is the only way we will be able to be gracious and loving to those we consider enemies or have hurt us in some way. There is freedom in forgiveness mostly for the “forgiver” not necessarily the “forgivee.” (I know that’s not a real word). Furthermore, it does us good to remember the hurt and pain that we have caused others, and the fact that we have been forgiven. On our knees before Jesus and his cross, we find all matters put into their proper perspective.
So, now we are free to love because we have, in repentance, given ourselves into the hands of a just, holy, gracious, loving, and forgiving God. We are completely and utterly dependent on the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts. We have to be transformed within and only the Holy Spirit can do that. Only God can change our motives from wanting revenge to offering grace.
Hence, the next time you feel like taking out your blaster and letting someone have it, remember, you are God’s child, now free and capable of loving, which means your Father will handle whatever vengeance needs getting. I need not be any longer on our hearts and minds - and wouldn't that be liberating? Justice rests in the hands of the only one who can be trusted to handle it rightly and that’s not us. Want to get even with someone? Let it go! It’s none of your business.
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