Heart of Revenge

Jeremiah 51: ¹⁰ “‘The Lord has vindicated us;
    come, let us tell in Zion
    what the Lord our God has done.’

============

Driving along the highway I noticed a person who decided to pay back a person who cut them off. They got in front of them and slammed on their brakes, causing the other person a huge scare. I thought to myself, “That seems like a good idea!” I mean I got tired of drivers who got in front of me, almost grazing my car, meanwhile the lane doesn’t go any faster.

I decided to try it on the next driver who cut me off. Minutes later it happened. I put my plan into action by sliding over to the lane they left. Suddenly I hit a huge pothole and bent one of my rims. Oh, now I know why the person darted in front of me. My vengeance cost me hundreds.

• Sometimes I want to get that person back.
• Sometimes I want “that” person to fail.
• Sometimes I want to hear about the fall and see them tumble down the mountain.

Watching the speeder who passes me then gets pulled over by a cop feels great until I am the speeder who gets pulled over. The “Heart of Revenge” makes me look at others with judgement in mind. I hope for their demise never once thinking I may be the perpetrator. BUT GOD says something different.

• GOD says to me “Vengeance is MINE says the LORD, I will repay” meaning I need to stay out of HIS way or I will feel the wrath too.
• GOD says to me “I will take out MY vengeance on those who harm MY people” meaning HE does not need me to fight when HE has been angered.
• GOD says to me “Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that GOD will bless them” meaning let GOD handle the malefactor.

Having a “Heart of Revenge” makes me play the situation over in my mind, not letting go of its deadly poison. BUT GOD wants me to let go. HE wants me to see HIS protection and allow HIM to pour out HIS wrath or grace on the person. HE wants my heart to be filled with grace just like HIM. HE wants me to empty my vengeful heart and fill it with love.

• Are you mad at someone?
• Are you spitting poison as much as you can about other people?
• Can you stop being angry and fill your heart with love?
• Will you allow GOD to handle “that” person and also allow HIM to change your heart?

Spend Time Wisely

Psalm 135: ¹³ Your name, Lord, endures forever,
    your renown, Lord, through all generations.
¹⁴ For the Lord will vindicate his people
    and have compassion on his servants.

============

Pressure seemed to grow the higher I climbed. Deadlines, meetings and conference calls filled my mind. I had to document all of them and review them at night. There was little to no time to think of people outside of the projects I worked on.

• There is a finite amount of time I am on this planet so I should praise the LORD.
• There is a finite amount of time I am on this planet so I should spend some of it with GOD.
• There is a finite amount of time I am on this planet so I should think of serving HIS people.

This chapter talks about how great and marvelous GOD is, but then it took a dark turn and talked about GOD destroying once mighty Egypt. Barbaric towards slaves, Egypt reigned with a mighty hand. Tierney caused GOD’s people to cry out. GOD heard.

• GOD hears me when I cry out.
• GOD hears me when I am in need.
• GOD hears me when I seek to serve HIM and HIS people.

Turning to GOD should be a daily thing rather than an afterthought upon attending church once a week. GOD wants me to seek the lost because time is running out. HIS name endures forever, not mine. My finite time should be spent as if tomorrow were the last.

• Are you spending an enormous amount of time mad, sad or worried?
• Can you quiet down for a moment and ponder GOD’s greatness?
• Will you stop spinning your troubles in your mind for a minute and notice GOD around you, even if it is for a second? 

Focus on GOD

Job 24: ²³ He may let them rest in a feeling of security,
    but his eyes are on their ways.

============

Jealous is never a good thing. I mean when I look at what someone else is doing or not doing I compare myself to them. Since I’m the judge I always win my personality contest. I say “Look at what they are doing” to GOD and it seems like they are getting away with murder, literally.

• GOD says to me “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.”
• GOD says to me “Pray for your enemies.”
• GOD says to me “Have mercy on the merciless.”

I pondered these qualities and realized that’s the way GOD treats me. HE is merciful on me in spite of me. HE holds back HIS wrath and showers me with love. HE turns my jealous into prayer.

• Are you jealous of the reckless?
• Do you think “that” person is getting away with everything and you are getting beat up?
• Can you turn you jealousy into a prayer?
• Will you show mercy on those who don’t deserve it?

What goes around comes around

2 Samuel 17: Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. ² I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king ³ and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.” ⁴ This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

-------

⁵ But Absalom said, “Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say as well.”

-------

⁷ Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time.

-------

¹⁴ Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.

============

Fed up with being pushed around, I started lifting weights. Soon I gained some nice size and I started hanging with the muscle heads. One guy was particularly mean. Okay, I think he was on steroids. He suggested we go out to a bar with him to have some “fun.” Not knowing what he meant, I agreed.

Another guy said “I don’t think we should go” so I didn’t.  A few days later the bar going guy furiously stormed into the gym. “Why didn’t y’all show up? I had to fight these guys all by myself.”

GOD has protected me many times from bad advice and stupid actions. In this instance I was protected from becoming the bully I longed to get away from. I played out the scenario after the incident and I could see nothing but destruction.

• GOD says to me “Whatsoever you sow you will reap.”
• GOD says to me “Love one another as I have loved you.”
• GOD says to me “Be slow to anger.”
• GOD says to me “Vengeance is MINE.”

When I am full of rage and fury, my next steps are very important. I can take the full rage and turn it into hatred, spreading poison and death to many or I can follow what GOD says and give HIM my poison and let HIM diffuse the situation. If I choose GOD’s way I must realize HE wants to save “that” person as well. Whatever the choice, I will reap what I sow.

• Are you angry at someone?
• Do you have rage?
• Can you let go of your anger and rage and let GOD work it all out?

Revenge or grace

Exodus: ²² “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. ²³ But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, ²⁴ eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, ²⁵ burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

============

Exhausted from track practice I slumped toward my locker. A football player walking on the opposite direction decided to hit my scrawny frame in the chest. I literally saw glowing things so I know what people mean when they say they saw stars!

This amongst other bullying activities made me life weights. No one was going to push me around anymore!

• When I get mad I want revenge!
• When someone does me harm I want to harm them.
• When I am the target of hatred I want to give them a taste of their own medicine.

After lifting weights and putting on a few muscles I noticed people picking fights rather than letting me have peace. “Should I learn to fight” crossed my mind. BUT GOD wanted me to behave different.

• GOD wants me to turn rage into Grace for that’s what HE shows me daily.
• GOD wants me to forgive rather than show revenge for the sole purpose of drawing people to HIM.
• GOD wants me to bring peace rather than picking fights to demonstrate the same love HE showed me.

GOD created the “revenge laws” AND HE demonstrated the payment for the law by dying for my sins. HE paid the price for all revenge and wants me to show love instead of hatred.

• Did someone treat you wrong?
• Are you ready to fight them?
• Can you stop thinking about the wrong they have done and think about the grace GOD wants you to show?