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Day 146 Proverbs 17:4 Proverbs 17:4 A wicked doer gives heed to false lips; and a liar gives ear to a naughty tongue. 5 Whoso mocks the poor reproaches his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. You can’t go anywhere in the world today without hearing about the atrocities taking place, and the people who gladly come forward and claim responsibility. It isn’t just the major problems, but it’s happening in homes, schools, neighborhoods, work places, anywhere someone can think of doing something bad to another person and laugh about it. Your first reaction to such situations is to find the people responsible and see that they pay for their actions, from a death sentence in a court of law to punishment in a family situation. Solomon said that anyone who did those things would not go unpunished. If you can’t find the person responsible, God knows who is and will punish them. A saying often heard is: Let the punishment fit the crime. Everyone wants to see the people involved punished, but finding them can be a problem, but not for God. God also said vengeance belongs to him and we are to allow him to handle people who mock him and bring harm to his children. Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. It isn’t easy to sit back and wait for God to take vengeance on those who cause the worst kind of trouble imaginable. God set up courts to handle people who bring harm on a global level, such as ISIS and the terrorism that confronts the world. On your own you do not have the power to bring justice to those who terrorize the lives of thousands of people at one time. Deuteronomy 16:18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. 19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. (KJV) Every country has a judicial system to try matters of terrorism. Courts have also been set up to try lesser crimes, and parents also have authority in the home to mete out punishment as necessary. One thing to keep in mind is that God will not be mocked. If you think you escaped the law for the crime you commit, God still knows what you did and will bring justice your way. Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Jesus called you to forgive and show mercy to those who do and intend harm against you. It is the hardest thing a Christian can do. However, when you give all your situations in God’s hands, he will bring justice. Let’s pray: Father, help me give all my problems to you, and not set out to take matters in my own hands, bringing my kind of justice to those who intend harm against me. Let me give them all to you, and allow you to take care them, remembering that vengeance belongs to you, not me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 1 February 2017 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay