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Maybe you don’t exactly pray the “fall and die” kind of prayer, but is your heart entirely free from seeking vengeance?

I don’t know about you but sometimes when someone cuts dangerously in front of me in traffic, Satan puts the thought in my mind that they are heading for an accident. The thought is cunningly presented in a cause (driving recklessly) and consequence (they get into an accident) framework, but when I am being completely honest with myself, I can see that rather than immediately reject and replace the thought with better wishes, I entertain it under the guise that they are probably getting what is coming to them.

To wish that something bad happens to someone who has wronged us is to seek vengeance in our hearts. Alas! Just as he won’t share his glory with any man, God exclusively reserves vengeance for himself. Romans 12:19 says,  ‘Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God’s wrath [and His judicial righteousness]; for it is written [in Scripture], “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.’

To wish that something bad happens to someone who has wronged us is to seek vengeance in our hearts.

Perhaps God’s grace has helped you to the point that you are able to restrain yourself from taking revenge, praise God for that. You must however realize that grace can do a deeper work still. It can help you (and I) to remove the desire to see those who personally wrong us come to ruin.

You see, Romans 12:19 speaks of God’s judicial righteousness as the reason why He alone should exercise vengeance. Paul in 2 Thessalonians 1:6 confirms that when God exercises vengeance on those who trouble us, it is a righteous thing that He does. The problem is that when we enter into this arena that God claims exclusivity over, we are unable to act with righteousness. As it says in James 1:20, ‘for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us].’

It is not that vengeance in itself is a wrong concept, it is that when we who are not the righteous judge attempt to exercise it, we invariably do unrighteousness. And so, God’s instruction to us is to keep our spirit unsullied by avoiding vengeance entirely.

It is not that vengeance in itself is a wrong concept, it is that when we who are not the righteous judge attempt to exercise it, we invariably do unrighteousness

Now, a person might say, “I am just praying for the person to get their just deserts, when I pray ‘fall and die’,” or like in my case, when I don’t particularly mind if they have an accident … maybe a minor one. The truth however is that even that active prayer or passive desire falls far short of the standard God sets after He declares His exclusive right to vengeance.

‘Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God’s wrath [and His judicial righteousness]; for it is written [in Scripture], “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome and conquered by evil, but overcome evil with good.’ —  Romans 12:19-21, AMP

God’s standard and instruction to us is that, rather than focus on the punishment that your enemy deserves, focus on the need in his life, and how you can help to meet that need. To do otherwise is to be overcome by evil. Meanwhile, the only way to keep from sinking into the evil we fight is by fighting it with good.

Meanwhile, the only way to keep from sinking into the evil we fight is by fighting it with good.

Paul provides us a stellar example of this principle when he writes to Timothy, ‘Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; [but that is no concern of mine, for] the Lord will repay him according to his actions’ (2 Timothy 4:14, AMP). If you concern yourself with the harm people have done you, you will grow angry and bitter, and that strengthens Satan’s hand against you.

Draw on God’s grace that gives you the strength to leave things to God.