Vengeance is Mine

Sometimes it seems it is not always possible to live at peace with everyone, despite what we do. And we only have to pick up a paper, or watch the news on the television, to see all the ways people are taking revenge on each other. Wars are inevitable, when there’s so much injustice and unrighteousness.

Two people can see things from a totally different perspective, and often those who tell us a believable tale are just bringing us into deception. I think the modern word today is ‘spin doctor’. My mother used to quote the words of a poet ‘Oh what a tangled web we weave when we practise to deceive’.

We can stand up against many things, but lies and deception are hard to stand up against in our human strength. To God, none of this is a surprise. He will bring into the light all that has been in the dark, for the glory of Jesus’ name. He longs for us to live in the light of His truth.

My anger used to sometimes get out of hand at the lies and deception around me. Then I realised, God does not like lies and deception either. My emotional response sometimes overwhelmed not only me, but others around me.

Awareness of being deceived grieved me deeply. I didn’t know what to do, or how to avenge myself. Then I realised that I didn’t have to avenge myself. This was a revelation for me, that my heavenly Father would fight for me. I could trust Him to stick up for me. WOW! When we chose to surrender all the pain and grief of injustice in our lives, Jesus is right there with us. ‘Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him’ (Isaiah 64:4).

If you’ve been deceived, and you’re suffering the shock and pain of it all, call out to your Father. He will guide you and fight for you.

Prayer: Heavenly Father thank You that there’s no other God like You. What a peace we have to know that You act on our behalf. Show us if we’ve been deceived in any way, and protect us from the deceiver. Give us the grace of a truly repentant heart if we’ve deceived others. Guide us and strengthen us with power through Your Holy Spirit in our inner being. Please give us what we need to walk in the victory Jesus died for. In Jesus’ name, Amen.