“Leave It With The LORD!”

“Leave It To The LORD!”(Rom.12:17-21).
The old dispensation stated: “If anyone injures his neighbour, whatever he has done must be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured”(Lev.24:19-20).
In the new dispensation, the Lord Jesus Christ abrogated the old law of eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Rather, he prescribes: “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well… Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”(Mt.5:38-44). What a tall order!
It is a tall order, but a panacea for healing the hurts that drives us towards revenge and retaliation. You heap burning coals on your enemy’s head when you show him love.
The law of Moses was the law of exact retaliation. The Lord Jesus Christ chose the path of nonviolence because as Ghandi, one of his fervent disciples, said, “An eye for an eye and half the world goes blind!”
It is true that those who pursue the route of nonviolence and non-retaliation are considered to be indecisive weaklings or naive fools. Even so, it is better to be that way by playing the fool to fool the fool and let him think that he is fooling you.
My friend, measure for measure and tit for tat only create a vicious circle and promotes a rat race where winners don’t emerge!
Today, through today’s text, Paul simplifies the lesson of nonviolence in these words: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful 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. 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. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Dear friend, in a world where there is a strong urge for revenge, let us embrace this nonviolence and peace manifesto and live it as a memoriam to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who preached and lived it and became a scapegoat for it.
Prayer: Holy Spirit help us daily to try as much as it is in our power, to overcome evil with good. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
17/07/2025.