Power for Relationships:
Release Not Revenge – Part 1

Scripture Reading:  Romans 12:17-21

Key verse: Romans 12:19

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

From the very beginning of life, God created us to be in relationship.  It was our Creator who said, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18).  As God put us together, He put within us a design to relate.  We find our greatest fulfillment when we are in healthy relationships.

            After the fall of man, sin stepped into our God-given design and created havoc.  Now we have a design for relationship but a sin-wrecked ability to do them well.  When we come to Christ, it is His desire to help us improve our damaged relationships.  They will never be perfect or easy in this sin damaged world, but God can redeem them to bless us.  If we open our minds to God’s Word and humbly obey His principles, we can enjoy healthy relationships.

            Today’s printed key verse gives us one of those principles.  We will study three of them in the next few days.  The first principle in all our relationships is “Release Not Revenge.”  We are all affected by the sinful world and our treatment of those around us is going to reflect that.  We will fail people, hurting their feelings and damaging the relationship.  If we go after revenge, it becomes a destructive cycle that destroys the relationship.  Webster defines revenge as: “to inflict injury in return for.”  This retaliating act may seem natural but brings disaster to our relational lives.  (Continued)

Father, please help me not to cave to the natural feelings that call for revenge.  Grant me your grace to forgive as you did for me.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.