Are you vindictive?

[missmuffet]

As humans we want to get back to those who have hurt us. It is a human instinct. 

But we are to allow God to judge rightly and pour out His divine retribution against

His enemies as He sees fit. 

There are two times in the Bible when God gives men permission to avenge in His name

Numbers 31:1-2 and 1 Peter 2:13-14.

It is tempting to try to take on the role of God and seek punishment to those who we feel

deserve it. Because we are sinful creatures, it is impossible for us to take revenge

with a pure motive.

Proverbs 20:22

Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

[missmuffet]

2 minutes ago, Rosie1jack2pauline3 said:

Oh yes, I’ve wanted to hurt back those who have hurt me, I knew it was wrong, anyway God has helped me to stop doing that, I leave them to him now....this sounds awful and I’m not saying it’s of God, but those who have really hurt me, they have a lot of health problems lately.

It takes a lot of courage, restraint and prayer to not get back. It takes faith and trust to give these people to God and let go. 

[Alive]

Even the consideration of considering the consideration of 'getting back' is far short of the mark. This should not be a consideration and every Christian should be acutely aware of when that may be taking place in heart and mind and run the other way.

It can be subtle--very subtle.

 

It is just about the most un-Christlike of thinking.

 

[missmuffet]

9 minutes ago, Alive said:

Even the consideration of considering the consideration of 'getting back' is far short of the mark. This should not be a consideration and every Christian should be acutely aware of when that may be taking place in heart and mind and run the other way.

It can be subtle--very subtle.

 

It is just about the most un-Christlike of thinking.

 

So perhaps we should all ask God to search our heart in 2022 and help us with this. 

[Alive]

Just now, missmuffet said:

So perhaps we should all ask God to search our heart in 2022 and help us with this. 

Amen!

[LearningToLetGo]

To see oneself as God sees us is to see through all our own lies, chicanery and BS. It is to strip ourselves naked in body, thought, spirit and mind such that we see even our innermost thoughts and feelings are known to God before they are known to us. We cannot lie to God. Even the thought of it is impossible. We can, however, lie to ourselves and this is the essential problem.

[The_Patriot21]

Im not gonna lie i can be very vindictive. Im better then i was...but i still have my moments.

[Marathoner]

I appreciate Pat's candor and honesty, something which our Lord esteems in man. It is better to be honest to a fault than to cover faults with falsehood. We all possess them.

My penchant for silence --- both of the lips and keyboard as it were --- serves a specific purpose, friends. A long time ago, the Lord chastised me on account of my carelessness toward my neighbor and brethren alike, some of whom I treated very poorly. I suppose "vindictive" is an acceptable term to sum up a sarcastic tongue, sardonic demeanor, and never forgetting a slight. We know the conviction of the Lord when He calls us to task --- He does so for our benefit, so we might continue onward in being conformed to His image --- and that His dealing with us is for life and good. 

When I witnessed the truth of what I had done, I was done for. Ah, but this was my first lesson in the nature of His chastisement: the Lord did not expect for me to hide in shame and when I was doing just that, well... He chastised me again! Stand on my feet like the man He created me to be. Take account of my deeds and learn from my error. Is he not our Teacher? Are not we not the children of God, learning and growing while we are present in this world?

Zipping my lips, then, was the first step in dealing with the errors of my past. This is how I became skilled at saying nothing at all.  

[Michael37]

9 hours ago, missmuffet said:

As humans we want to get back to those who have hurt us. It is a human instinct. 

But we are to allow God to judge rightly and pour out His divine retribution against

His enemies as He sees fit. 

There are two times in the Bible when God gives men permission to avenge in His name

Numbers 31:1-2 and 1 Peter 2:13-14.

It is tempting to try to take on the role of God and seek punishment to those who we feel

deserve it. Because we are sinful creatures, it is impossible for us to take revenge

with a pure motive.

Proverbs 20:22

Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

Is consigning members to our Ignore Lists being vindictive?  

[Duck]

12 hours ago, missmuffet said:

As humans we want to get back to those who have hurt us. It is a human instinct. 

But we are to allow God to judge rightly and pour out His divine retribution against

His enemies as He sees fit. 

There are two times in the Bible when God gives men permission to avenge in His name

Numbers 31:1-2 and 1 Peter 2:13-14.

It is tempting to try to take on the role of God and seek punishment to those who we feel

deserve it. Because we are sinful creatures, it is impossible for us to take revenge

with a pure motive.

Proverbs 20:22

Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

Yes. And malevolent.