Beautiful Word Devotional #71

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

1 Thessalonians 5:15

We live in a world of vigilante justice, not only on a large scale, but also in daily life. If people hurt us, we want them to be hurt too. It only seems fair.

But Paul described an entirely different way of living here. Instead of payback in kind, he highlighted kind payback. Instead of retaliation, we refresh. Instead of injuring, we initiate healing.

Such behavior seems impossible, especially if we’ve been hurt by someone. It’s even harder when someone has purposefully hurt a person we love. While it’s absolutely okay to pursue justice through legal means when a law has been broken, we also have to obey God’s commands however painful a situation is.

Wherever you are today, ask God to give you his perspective on the situation. Ask for him to empower you to love, and be honest when you want to retaliate instead. God loves to come alongside those who long to love others but find it difficult.

Lord, I am often tempted to pay back wrong for wrong. Help me to love back instead, amen.