Supernatural restraint

Romans 12:19 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. Is there ever a time when revenge is an option for a believer? According to the apostle Paul, “No, there is never a time to take revenge.” Why? Because we are beloved of God, and He will not sit idly by and watch His beloved mistreated with impunity. Because we know we are loved, we can trust God to take up our cause. God has said that vengeance is His. He will repay those who do us harm. Paul encouraged the Romans to literally “give space for” God’s wrath. We learn from Rom. 1 what God’s wrath is—it’s when God gives people who suppress the truth in ungodliness over to themselves. When God puts people in our paths in whom God is revealing His wrath, we must give space for God to work. That means that these people will probably persecute us or do evil. When this occurs, we need to remember that God is working His vengeance against them and repaying them for rejecting Him and for their ungodliness and unrighteousness. What are we to do? How are we to love? Paul gets very specific in the next verse as to how we are to respond, so we will wait to answer these questions tomorrow. Today, be encouraged to trust God as He works in everyone’s lives. Give Him room to work by not reacting in a negative way, returning evil for evil. You can be sure that restraining the natural reaction to treat others as they treat you and by maintaining peace in your heart toward them by the power of the Holy Spirit, that you are glorifying God and offering a living, holy sacrifice acceptable to God. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com