Proverbs 24
As I was reading Proverbs 24 today, the verse that spoke to me was 29: And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me I’ll get even with them!” How many times has this thought run through your mind? For me, probably too many to count. Not that I act on it, but I have thought it especially if it involves my children. The best comeback when someone has treated you wrong – return good for evil! It is not a complicated concept; it’s very simple. Yet it is rare. It’s one of the most difficult tasks we ever undertake in life. Let’s be honest. Forgiving an offense is much easier when the guilty person is contrite and has sincerely apologized. But when the offender takes delight in our suffering or personally benefits from our downfall, choosing to treat him or her kindly defies everything we know about justice and fair play. Kindness is a response beyond our natural capability. It will require supernatural strength-and that is precisely what God has promised.
Paul tells us in Romans 12:21 – “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” Ultimately, God will overcome the world’s evil with His good. In the following command of Christ to “bless and do not curse” (Romans 12:14, Matthew 5:44) and by returning good for evil, we become “imitators of God” (Ephesians 5:1), as we become active participants in His work. If, however, we refuse to join God in His work, if we reject His call to extend grace to our enemies as He does, the daily grind of revenge will continue to siphon our peace, drain our joy, and undermine our love until we do?
Think about this:
Who presents the greatest challenge to your decision to forgive?
What do you hope will happen if you withhold forgiveness?
How realistic is this hope? What do you stand to gain by forgiving your enemies?
