Here Comes The Judge

I learned a long time ago vengeance is not mine.  What a great lesson!  James 5:9 "Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!"  I have to laugh when I think of years past when family members and friends use to tease me and call me Judge Judy.  It is so easy to criticize people and try to play judge. When people have done things to hurt us, our first reaction is to pass judgment on them, place all the blame on them for the wrong and then begin to retaliate...either with harmful words, spreading hurtful information about the person, responding with cruel actions, or whatever weapon we chose.  I can tell you it won't make us feel better to continue the cycle of hurt by trying to inflict our own version of consequences on that person.  I tell my daughter all the time, "the Judge stands at the door".  She knows this is her reminder not to retaliate.  It's similar to the saying, "two wrongs don't make it right".  I have been through enough cycles in my life to know the hand of God is far more powerful than any vengeance I can dream up.  When people make poor choices, it always comes with a price.  Proverbs 26:27 tells us "Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them."  This scripture doesn't say to help dig the pit for the person to fall into.  It doesn't say to give them a nudge and push them in the pit.  It doesn't say to even roll the stone back on them.  As a result of their actions, there will be a consequence.  We don't need to implement them - He will.  The Judge does stand at the door and He is the only one worthy of judging and the only one capable to enforce the proper punishment. Romans 12:19 "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord."  I have witnessed the hand of God.  I have watched people show lack of sympathy to those hurting - only to have a hurt inflicted on them.  I have watched people who have done horrible things to others - only to experience tremendous heartaches in their own lives.  The list could go on and on, but I think you get it.  God will repay.  Give up your desire to be the judge and to seek retribution.  

Other scriptures support this truth.  Deuteronomy 32:35  "It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them."  Matthew 5:38-39  "You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. "  Hebrews 10: 30-31 "For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."   Trust in God to take care of these things for you.  There is a great freedom to let go and let God.  He doesn't intend for us to carry the burden of vengeance.  We are not equipped to enforce a penalty...the enforcement typically becomes a greater penalty for us in the end.