By: Heath McLeod and Austin K. Dixon
Have you considered vengeance? In the Bible, God says that vengeance is His (Rom 12:19-20; Deu 32:35).
Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
Romans 12:19 (NASB95)
This means it belongs to Him and not yourself. So if you give to God what belongs to Him (e.g. vengeance on someone who wronged you), then you should have no further management over it.
Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them.
Deuteronomy 32:35 (NASB95)
God will decide whatever, whenever, and however to exact His revenge (Deu 32:35). He may choose to swiftly return the injustice to the offender, or he may wait an indefinite amount of time. He may even choose to repay the action in a manner unequal in severity to the offense. Whatever action God chooses will be the correct one as it will work for the good of those who love God (Rom 8:28-30). But regardless of the result, it is his privilege and prerogative to carry it out in any way he sees fit, since it belongs to Him.
So what should we as followers of Jesus do when we are wronged? Well if vengeance is God’s (Rom 12:19; Lev 19:18), we should be responding the same way we do when we are not wronged – show them God’s love (Mat 22:37-40; Luk 6:32).
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
Luke 6:32 (NASB95)
Being nice to someone because they deserve it is not love. Love is being exceedingly nice to someone when they absolutely do NOT deserve it! After all, this is the love that God showed us.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 (NASB95)
To be Christ like (1Co 11:1; Eph 5:1-2; 1Jn 2:6; Rom 8:29) we are not called to pour out vengeance, but to do exactly what Christ did for us, love (1Jn 4:19). So the next time someone is deserving of fire and brimstone, consider sharing with them how Christ took the vengeance you deserved upon Himself.
We love, because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19 (NASB95)