Breaking the Cycle of Revenge

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." – Romans 12:21

Our natural instinct, apart from Christ, is to seek justice or even revenge when we've been wronged. I'm reminded of a story about a man who served as an umpire for recreational baseball games in his spare time. One summer, he was driving too fast and got pulled over by a police officer. He tried desperately to come up with excuses—any reason that might convince the officer to let him off just this once. Despite his pleas, the officer wrote him a ticket, smiled, and said, "Take it up with the courts."

The man paid a hefty fine, and then baseball season rolled around. As he took his position as umpire, who should come up to bat but that same police officer, now playing on a baseball team. Before stepping up to the plate, the officer recognized him and jokingly asked, "Hey, how did that ticket work out for you at the courts?"

The umpire's response? "You better swing at everything." Sweet revenge.

There's a part of us that cheers for this kind of payback. It seems fair, doesn't it? But Jesus calls us to something radically different in Matthew 5:7: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." When Jesus comes into our lives, He replaces our desire for revenge with a heart of mercy—a heart that extends to others the same compassion and grace we've received from God.

In Romans 12:21, Paul writes, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." God doesn't ask us to pretend we haven't been hurt. Instead, He invites us to leave justice in His capable hands or the hands of societal justice, while we personally focus on showing mercy.

Think about how much God has forgiven you. In the parable of the unforgiving servant, Jesus describes a man forgiven a debt equivalent to millions of dollars, who then refuses to forgive someone who owes him a few dollars. The king's response is sobering: "Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?" (see Matthew 18:33)

When we truly grasp the magnitude of God's mercy toward us, extending mercy to others becomes not just possible but natural.

Reflection Question: Think of a time when someone wronged you and you wanted revenge. How might responding with mercy instead have changed the outcome? Is there someone in your life right now to whom you need to show mercy rather than seeking payback?

Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I've sought revenge rather than showing mercy. Thank You for not giving me what I deserve, but instead showing me grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Help me break the cycle of revenge in my relationships. Give me the strength to respond with mercy even when it's difficult. Remind me daily of the great debt You've forgiven me so that I can freely forgive others. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Check out the sermon "Compassion in Action":  https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/kpnmqdv/5-compassion-in-action