• Romans 12:17-18
•  ‘Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
• DAILY READING   Galatians 5:16-26; Ezekiel 1; Psalm 148

America’s most notorious family feud began in 1878, over a stolen pig. It all started with accusations and a fight between two men, William Hatfield and Randolph McCoy. Soon the fight involved members of both men’s families. This triggered years of bloody violence and retribution between these families; the Hatfields and the McCoys. The fight that took place in the 19th-century, turned into a vendetta that continued unabated for several decades. Members of both clans committed brutal murders, and their fighting brought heartache to every family in the valley of the Tug Fork River, along the border of Kentucky and West Virginia. The men who started this bitter and destructive violence, William Hatfield and Randolph McCoy, were responsible for scores of deaths, but they were never brought to justice in a court of law. Although they both lived long lives, they had to watch the suffering and death of their loved ones.

It is indeed amazing that what started as a little quarrel ended up consuming so many lives. Vengeance can indeed be destructive. No wonder God says in Romans 12:17-19  ‘Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord’.

As we go through life there will be those who will do us wrong. It can be easy to hold on to the hurt, to be vindictive and try to pay them back. But life is not about getting revenge or hurting people who hurt you. In trying to revenge, matters can get out of hand and spiral down to more hurts. If people betray you, tell lies or say evil things against you, it can be painful. It isn’t fair. The world’s advice is “Don’t get mad, get even!” But Jesus tells us in Luke 6:35 “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.’

And Romans 12:20 says ‘if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink..’ That’s a test. When David had opportunity to smite Saul but decided not to do so, he passed a test. The house of David began to wax stronger, while the house of Saul waxed weaker. God turned the tables in David’s favour. Eventually Saul melted into oblivion, while David, till date, remains the most beloved king in Israel. Again when David decided not to kill Nabal, due to Abigail’s intervention, that night God Himself dealt with Nabal, thus David was delivered from blood shed. When people hurt you or are  unfair, you may have every reason to be bitter, but learn to leave the matter in God’s hands. Maybe God has allowed you to hear this today, so that you can let go of someone who has hurt you. Truly, you have to learn to let go and let God. No matter how unfair people have been to you, continue to be good to them. The mercy you show others is the mercy that you will reap.  When God can trust you to handle influence and power without using it to be vindictive, He can take you to unimaginable heights and turn the table against your enemies.

PRAYER: Father please grant me the grace to always allow Your Word to take preeminence over my feelings and emotions. In every situation I may face, let only  Your will be done in my life, in Jesus’ name.

 quote :

For you to enjoy victory in the Kingdom of God, you need to develop a Kingdom mindset, that thinks in line with the Word of God.  – WORDBITE 222.