"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. 'BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Romans 12:19-21
Fighting for redemption is sometimes quite the opposite of what we imagine it should be. Growing up, my Dad had serious anger issues. After my Mom died, my wife and I lived with him to help him with his loss. One day we got into a heated argument and, as the enemy would have it, we came nose-to-nose. The enemy was filling my head with thoughts to "get even" for those days of fear from my youth. But the Holy Spirit spoke much louder. I told my Dad that I felt like punching him. Just like the days of old, he told me to go ahead. But instead, this time something was different. After telling him no, he asked why not? I told him that I loved him and I put my arms around him. Something broke that day. A life of anger was redeemed.
Soon after that encounter, my Dad started going to church and now serves there. I realized that day that my Dad was never the enemy, and by giving him something he never felt worthy of, love, God kept His end of the promise to bring redemption. Do you need to show anyone love today?
Father, we come today to ask for the strength to do good when we are on the receiving end of evil. We ask the You would redeem those relationships that have been volatile and those times of strife. Lead us to leave revenge in the hands that will not only repay, but redeem!