What is your first response when someone does you wrong? One thing I say a lot, (almost) always joking is, “Payback is a medivac”! This, of course, insinuates a violent response to whatever wrong you did to me. My wife used to have a t-shirt that said, “I don’t get mad, I get even.” Those are our typical responses to people and are usually meant in a joking manner. But sometimes we really do want to retaliate against others when they have hurt or insulted us. It’s the natural thing for us to do, but it is not God’s way.
He wants us to enjoy life and experience happy days, turning away from evil and doing good. He tells us to search for peace and work to maintain it. You can’t do this if you are returning insults for insults instead of blessing others. A blessing will extinguish the flames of contention and bring healing to a relationship, soothing a wound rather than opening it. Bless others and God will bless you!
1 Peter 3:9 (NLT) - “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.”