No Payback?

When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:23

One of the difficulties that we encounter as a Christian is leaving everything in God’s hands. We are fine with some things, willingly handing them over with faith and trust. At other times, it is almost as if handing it over to God isn’t even an option. Someone has riled us up and they are going to wish they hadn’t. Payback is on its way. We deal with the situation in our own way and feel justified in doing it – for a while, at least – then the guilt sets in. The truth is, the only thing that retaliation achieves is to create more pain.

Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing. 1 Corinthians 13:6

Payback is a scheme of the devil and in lowering ourselves to his standards, we are serving the wrong master – one that wants us to keep a record, and to keep score. This is not the way of the Lord Jesus; it is not the way of love. Love is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. Love bears all things, endures all things. (1 Cor 13:5,7).

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24

Jesus endured the cross, taking all of our ugliness so that we could live in the beauty of his holiness. We need to turn away from a tit-for-tat mentality, breaking the cycle of pain and allowing our hearts to be healed of all bitterness. Instead of keeping a record and marking the scorecard, we entrust it all to the One who judges justly.

When we live to righteousness, we hand everything over to Him who holds everything in his hands.