Mirror God’s Gracious Love

Read Matthew 5:38-42

Is vengeance a viable means of obtaining justice? We believe we are merely doing what is right and what others deserve, so we take justice into our own hands. We all have a yearning for vengeance. According to a study conducted by a group of Swiss experts, vengeance is currently quite rewarding. When left unchecked, the need for vengeance destroys the lives of those involved, especially our lives. Is it possible to respond with love to someone who has wronged us?

Jesus is urging us to respond in a revolutionary and unexpected way—in love rather than revenge. Paul echoes what Jesus stated in Romans 17-21 and encourages us to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone, that we may not be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good.

What can we do to mirror God’s gracious love towards those who have wronged and mistreated us? Philippians 4:8 says, Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Let us allow God to use our extended to reveal His abundant love to others. As Mahatma Gandhi so aptly put it, “an eye for an eye” simply serves to blind the entire world.