"Someday, Somehow, Somewhere"

Satan has several weapons in his arsenal as he fights against the people of God. One of these is deception, and who of us has not fallen prey to this tactic. Another of his effective weapons in the life of the believer is distraction. Sometimes it is the tyranny of the urgent calling to us and pulling us away from the truly important things in life. Sometimes it is to get us chasing after good things instead of the best thing. Other times he may use the cares of this life to burden us down with worry and anxiety. There is another kind of distraction that Proverbs draws our attention to...

Proverbs 20:22 “Do not say, I will repay evil; wait for the LORD, and He will deliver you.”

The distraction of seeking vengeance for wrongs done to us. The distraction of repaying the evil done against us. “I will get even, if it’s the last thing it do, you will pay for what you did to me.” These are fighting words, these are words that are all consuming. They may never be said out loud to anyone, but in the heart they rage war, they monopolize our thoughts. It is hard to think about anything else. When we allow thoughts of revenge to take us captive, we suffer physically, our relationships suffer, our family suffers, our fellowship with God loses it’s joy. Vengeance is a terrible taskmaster.

Proverbs reminds us of something important. Evil repaid is still evil. When we seek to repay evil we have sunk to that other person’s level.

Jesus calls believers to a higher standard, His. Paul puts it this way.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:14-19 ESV)

How many servants of God have been ensnared by this desire to repay evil. This is not just a hobby , it becomes our life, every waking hour, every time we have a minute to ourselves we race back to that offense and relive it all over again.

We have all been hurt by others. We have all been the recipient of evil done to us. Satan loves to get us feeling very self-righteous and justified in seeking to repay evil because he knows It is the path to barrenness, and powerlessness in the Christian life. One of the greatest tests of faith is to trust God with the evils done against us. We want a piece of them, please don't’ rob me of that. But we must remember, pride always goes before a fall. When we fall into this well of “revenge mode”, bitterness, anger, and discontentment always come with it. But we have another choice.

Proverbs, Jesus, and Paul all tell us to wait for the LORD. Keep doing what is right and good. The LORD knows what they did, do not avenge yourselves, leave it to the wrath of God and get on with serving him, loving others, even your enemies.

The truth , this truth will set us free. Let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, confess our sins, wait for Him and he will deliver us in His time. This will free us to be about our Father’s business and frees us to leave the things He says He’ll take care of with Him.

“Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief.”