10-07-2025 PART 2: Love Stronger Than Revenge

Section 1

Romans 12:17 commands believers, “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.” It’s a short verse with a massive challenge. When we’re filled with the Holy Spirit, it’s doable—but when we’re not, our natural instinct is retaliation. Scripture calls us instead to act honorably so others can see Christ in us. Paying back evil only multiplies pain; offering good plants seeds of redemption. Rather than praying for the downfall of enemies, believers are urged to pray for their eyes and hearts to open. God’s way replaces vengeance with intercession and harsh words with grace. Since life and death are in the power of the tongue, choosing restraint is spiritual maturity in action.

Section 2

The message moves from principle to practice: the desire for revenge is natural but not Christlike. Jesus Himself could have returned evil for evil after His crucifixion—but mercy won instead. Stephen, the first martyr, exemplified this same spirit as he prayed, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” True fullness of the Spirit changes perspective, allowing us to see heaven’s view rather than our own hurt. The mature believer seeks transformation rather than vindication. Praying for mercy while being wronged doesn’t mean weakness—it means strength born from divine power. The Christian’s goal isn’t to win arguments or score payback but to reflect the grace of the Savior who forgave His executioners.

Section 3

This journey—justification, sanctification, glorification—shows God’s patient shaping of His children. While we’re being sanctified, we still wrestle with impulses to lash out, even in small moments like traffic or disagreements. Yet growth is measured in those very reactions. Each time we choose honor over hostility, we move a step closer to Christ’s likeness. As 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, we are being changed “from glory to glory.” Even if progress feels slow—three steps forward, two back—God counts the one that remains. Doing what is honorable in every situation, including when no one’s watching, is the real mark of maturity. Love that refuses revenge reflects heaven on earth, proving grace is stronger than the need to get even.