Power UP | Revenge
Revenge
It’s common to want to get even with someone when the wrong us. An eye for an eye, that feels good, right? I think if we really look back on some times when we got revenge, and if we are being real, an eye for an eye probably didn’t leave us feeling satisfied. But what about the moments when you took the high road, you may not have the revenge you wanted, but you can feel confident that you didn’t make things worse. Kindness isn’t something that is easy to maintain, especially when people wrong us. Yet, if we look to how Jesus handled himself in the
midst of so many people seeking to harm him, we will get a picture of how we should act. Jesus could have struck down all those who turn their backs on him, beat him, and crucified him, but he didn’t. He extended kindness, forgiveness, and mercy. When people hurt you, and they will, extend kindness, forgiveness, and mercy. After all, Jesus already gave you these things.
Further reading | Luke 23:32-43
32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull,[a] they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”[b]And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.[c]
35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”
40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”