Revenge Is Not Sweet

I was raised in the inner city. I had a tough childhood growing up seeing and being a part of things that I am ashamed to admit. However, that was and is the culture of inner city. You have to grow up in such a rough shape and build yourself to survive in that environment. Gangs, drugs, and various illegal activities was the way of life. While other kids in better neighborhoods went to the park to play baseball or the basketball courts we did the opposite of those things.

In my environment we were involved in activities that you would expect a twenty-something year old to be a part of. In this environment there was one rule that everyone learned quickly - revenge is the get back. Revenge was the way to survive. Revenge was the act of someone who pressed fear and would go to all lengths to protect their dignity and themselves.

But I come today bearing different words. Words so wise and so deep that it stops you in your tracks.

"Do not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to me;
I will render to the man according to his work."" - Proverbs 29:24

"And the second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."" - Matthew 22:39

We are to give and show the love of Christ. Would you want to do yourself harm? Even after you continue to fail yourself? When you disappoint yourself in the decisions you make that are clearly wrong, do you want to revenge yourself based on those decisions? Do you want God to enact revenge on your for your actions? I'm sure the answer to all this is a flat out NO. It sure is for me. I fail daily on this, I ask for forgiveness and seek to pray for myself and the person.

Forgiveness comes from love. Love like Christ to forgive the trespasses against you. Allow God to deal with the people trespassing you, but pray that the LORD also has mercy on them as He's had mercy on you. Pray for yourself, a change of mind and heart; to go forward in trying to understand that we all need grace.

Blessings,
R. Rios Ramos