The Mirror of the Word by C.E. White can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Word-Devotions-Reveal-Refine/dp/B0DFZS83C7  To learn more about this author and other words, visit https://cewhitebooks.com/

“Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people.”

—Romans 12:17

Our human nature believes that repaying evil for evil is only fair, but God tells us differently.

He says we’re to do what is good and honorable despite others’ actions and to bless those who persecute us (Romans 12:14).

He says we’re to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44) and treat others as we wish to be treated no matter how they treat us (Matthew 7:12).

We think in terms of phrases like, “Turnabout is fair play,” “Karma will get them,” or—if we do retaliate—“They deserved it.”

But it’s not for us to exact revenge. Our job is to love despite their wickedness and pray for God to reach them before it’s too late, just as he did for us.

Christ is our example, and he gave us grace when we deserved punishment. If we truly understand that and what eternity looks like without the Lord, we will wish for even our most bitter enemies to come to the saving knowledge of him.

We’re to leave thoughts of retribution to the Lord, for he says, “Vengeance is mine, and retribution; in due time their foot will slip. For the day of their disaster is near, and the impending things are hurrying to them” (Deuteronomy 32:35).

We pray for their repentance, but we know that for those who remain in their wickedness, the day of disaster is coming. They may prosper for a moment in this life, but that is all the good they will get.

They deserve our compassion rather than our revenge. May we walk in the same love Christ showed as he forgave those who crucified him (Luke 23:34).

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