Jesus said in Matthew 5: 46-48 if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same. You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Jesus says conditional kindness is wrong and unacceptable before God.
God allows vengeance in his own time. Romans 5: 8 says but God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. If Christ Jesus forgave us and died for us while we were unrepentant, why can we not do likewise? Hebrews 8: 12 says for I will be merciful towards their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. If God repays evil with good, we must be committed to the same.
Physically, retribution may sometimes resolve evil. However, spiritually it does not. It rather makes us evil spiritually because it is not God’s character. God’s character towards evil is mercy, grace and love. When we repay evil with good, we project God as good to the evil one. It improves our relationship with God. The instruction to do good against evil is God’s command which we cannot refuse but to obey unconditionally. It is the culture of heaven which we must imbibe before we are called back home.
The product of evil for evil
Evil produces evil and assumes a vicious cycle. Good ends the vicious cycle of evil. In repaying evil with evil, we do not win the peace of Christ Jesus but only the war sometimes. But Christ came that we may have peace. When we show Christ’s love in return for evil, we glorify Jesus and the Father in heaven. Christ Jesus said in John 14: 27, peace I leave with you; my peace I give you; not as the world gives do I give to you. We must pursue God’s peace through good deeds.
John 13: 34 says a new commandment I give you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (Read also John 15:12). Vengeance does not free the soul but inhibits it from attaining its God given potential in Christ Jesus. 1 John 3: 14 says whoever does not love abides in death. 1 John 4: 8 says whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. Road also 1 Corinthians 13: 5-8.
Divine laws transcend the physical world. We appreciate divine laws when we submit to God in truth and are led by the Holy Spirit. Jesus invites us to copy his example of unfailing goodness. He said in Matthew 11: 29 take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
What is Jesus’ yoke?
Jesus’ yoke is forgiveness and love. On the cross, Jesus showed good for evil when he said in Luke 23: 34 Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Jesus said in Matthew 5: 39; Luke 6: 29, but I say to you, do not resist an evildoer… Colossians 3: 13 says bear with one another, if anyone has complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
God has given us the capacity to repay wrongs with good. If we find paying evil with good as a heavy burden, Jesus says in Matthew 11:28, come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. In retribution, we hurt our souls whereas in goodness, we heal our souls. Do we need healing?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we approach your throne of grace as sinners who have repented of our evil ways of retribution contrary to scripture. By your holy spirit, please heal us from all manner of evil and clothe us with your goodness that it may be our nature also. Let us be your disciples for love and not hate; for affection and not rejection. Wash away our sins and make us bear fruits worthy of repentance in you holy name, Amen!!
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