“¹⁹ Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

²⁰ Therefore if your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head.

²¹ Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:19-21

The righting of wrong is to be given to the Lord.  This does not mean we invite evil into our home or our country in an attempt to “sanctify” them through our good doing.  That is foolishness.  No where in the Bible do we see God instructing His Children to fellowship with evil except to warn them or call them to repentance.

However, when the Believer is wronged it is not our job to vindicate God’s righteousness.  It is GOD’s mercies and grace that is being rejected and it is GOD Who will vindicate.  God’s vengeance is vindicative in manner, not vindictive.  It is His Righteousness which requires punishment (vindication) of the mercy and grace which is rejected by those hardened by sin, not His justice.

When we begin to understand God’s vengeance as being vindicative in manner, not vindictive, we will seek to feed our enemy and overcome evil with good.  Any vengeance we attempt is vindictive, brings reproach to God and hinder’s Him from vindicating His Righteousness.

We are afforded God’s Righteousness by and through the atoning work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross.  Every thing we receive from God comes through Jesus and His Cross is the means.  It is our faith in Jesus, Who He is and what He did that gives us access to righteousness, grace and mercy.  Any vain attempt to avenge in our flesh merely hinders God’s work of vindication.

“³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: ⁴ (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) ⁵ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; ⁶ And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

Revenging all disobedience (casting down imaginations and high things that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;), contending for the faith and fighting the good fight of faith is a daily exercise of denying ourselves, picking up our cross and following Jesus Christ because of Who HE is and what HE has done…not us, not our enemies, not our situation but our Lord, Jesus Christ and His atoning work will be vindicated by God the Father.

Evil is overcome with good because of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He WILL be vindicated among the nations. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus Christ is Lord. Pray for your enemy.  Pray for mercy and grace to poured out upon their soul. God’s mercy will harden or soften the heart of man. Be not overcome by them, pray for them.

-Donna Clark Warren