Hands Off!

26 Nov Hands Off!

November 26, 2023

Hands Off!

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 12:19

As Believers, we understand that we don’t have the right to avenge ourselves and that God is the avenger. We just read this in our opening scripture: “Vengeance is mine, and I shall repay, says the Lord.” Sometimes, it sounds like vengeance is not coming, or recompense for the wrong done towards us does not come as quickly as we would desire.  

Another scripture in Ecclesiastes 8:11 King James Version (KJV) answers our question of what’s taking so long, Lord? It says, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” 

They do not get away with anything. Sometimes, I think the Lord allows a lag time between His judgment to allow us to work on us. We need not be concerned with the vengeance they deserve but how to forgive them. Romans 12:20 the following verse after our opening scripture says, “On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

I know it is hard sometimes, but it is required. I remember a gospel quartet group that had an early Sunday morning radio program. This Sunday, they had an event the previous night that ended late, and they opted to leave their set up in place because of the 7 o’clock start the next day. Lo and behold, someone broke into the facility and stole all their equipment. I was young then, but I remember the quartet leader’s prayer. He said, Lord, give them what they deserve; don’t spare them. Give them what they deserve, Lord, get revenge for your servants.  

I wondered at the time if that was a valid prayer, and it was. The Psalmist in Psalms 109 NIV says, “My God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, for people who are wicked and deceitful have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues. With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause…”

Pretty rough, right? Continue to read, “May their sins always remain before the LORD, that he may blot out their name from the earth.” Then, there is a switch in tone as he starts to pray for his enemies and blesses the Lord. That is the getting and keeping your heart right. 

This prayer is to God, not your family, friends, or social media. When an injustice is done to us, we need to give it to the Lord as the quartet leader and King David did. Please keep your hands off of it and keep your mind off of it as well. Many times, when our minds ponder a thing over and over, it leads to actions, and sometimes those actions are not necessarily good, and those actions make us as guilty as a person who offended us or came against us. Remember this scripture from Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” That scripture is also for the excellent stuff we sow, too so just Keep Your Hands Off. 💕

Theresa Woodard