Live Connected: Transformed LoveSample

It’s Not About Vengeance

Sometimes, we may find ourselves quick to anger and quick to retaliate. These reactions may signal deeper unresolved issues. Exploring the true source of our unrest is essential. We are told in Romans 12 that we shouldn’t seek vengeance ourselves but leave room for God’s wrath, for vengeance is His domain. Proverbs 25 further illustrates this concept by urging us to feed a hungry enemy and offer a thirsty enemy a drink. Doing so will heap fiery coals on their head—not as a gesture of spite, but as a profound gesture of goodness in the face of evil.

Does this mean we should allow ourselves to be pushed around? Absolutely not. But it emphasizes the difference between retaliation and resolution. Retaliation says, “You hurt me, and I’ll get you back.” Resolution, in contrast, seeks understanding and wisdom. It often involves mediation. You acknowledge that you’ve been hurt and seek to process that pain rather than blindly retaliating.

Taking vengeance into your own hands is choosing to become a destroyer of relationships, potentially damaging your witness. Handling things wisely doesn’t mean seeking revenge—it means placing your concerns before the Lord and letting Him take control.

This act of surrender is incredibly hard. To do this requires the Spirit of God within us. Choosing resolution rather than revenge is about sincerity, about genuinely following Jesus so that others might sincerely turn to Him. It’s about living a life of love, allowing God to be our Avenger, and trusting Him to act justly.

How can we achieve this? The answer lies in being intimately connected with Jesus. It’s not a matter of checking off boxes on a list; it’s about abiding in Christ. Our heart must beat simultaneously with His. We cannot overcome evil with good through willpower alone—it requires the transformative power of Christ within us. Romans 12 encapsulates how we should live as Christians—marked by our love, guided by truth, and taking responsibility when we err.

Just as a precious gemstone is formed under pressure, our transformation often comes from facing and overcoming our challenges. We can’t shine without first going through the fire. Christ can assist us with our affections, attitudes, actions, reactions, and desires for revenge.

Let’s take a moment to examine ourselves. Consider your jewels we have discussed: love, enthusiasm, endurance, actions that demonstrate our faith, and spiritual maturity. Which of these jewels resonates with you? Which jewel struck something within your heart? The Christian walk is not about striving or carrying some burden. It’s about tasting and seeing the goodness of God, experiencing His love firsthand so we can share it with others. That’s where true transformation is found. These jewels are our praise to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who is greater than anyone or anything we could ever imagine.

For more information regarding this devotional, please follow this link: https://houstonsfirst.org/message/transformed-love