Sign up for our free newsletter:

Do you dream of your abuser getting his just due? Maybe he gets hit by a car, someone stabs and kills him, or he's finally caught and put in prison forever for raping someone else? The hard thing is that many times in life, you don't see sinful people getting their just due. They seem to roll through life without any consequences for their evil actions.

But don't forget that God sees and knows all. That person won't get away scot-free. He or she will be held accountable—and judged by God—for every wrong done to you. Ecclesiastes 12:14 says, "every secret thing, whether good or evil" will be judged. God's anger burns hotly against those who abuse others. So instead of letting a spirit of hate and unforgiveness control you, choose to forgive. By choosing to forgive that person, you're not saying: what happened to me wasn't wrong, hasn't affected me, and that person can walk all over me again. Instead you're choosing to forgive so that your life can have a fresh, clean start, without the clouds of anger hovering around you. Leave the vengeance up to God—he'll take care of it for you in his way, in his time—and get on with your life. (See also Leviticus 18:6-18, 29, 30; Psalm 27.)

Good Words to Remember:
For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14

Today's Challenge:
Have you forgiven your abuser? Why or why not? Why not take that step today, and leave revenge up to God?

Copyright © 2001 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.

Bible Studies to Help You Go Deeper