God's Justice

Day 4, Anchors of Truth

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19 (ESV)

              I looked over my class list for the new year and saw a name I recognized. Their family was very involved, and I knew one of this child’s older relatives loved me dearly from the time I was a kid, so this was bound to be a great year. We were reacquainted at open house and the year was off to a roaring start.

              During our team planning meeting a few weeks into the school year, one of my partner teachers complained about how the family was treating her. She overheard them in a public place ripping her name to shreds and asked us how she should handle it. I questioned her to make sure this was the same family, and indeed it was. What had my partner teacher done to make them so mad?

              A few weeks later in our planning meeting, the other teacher in our wheel made a similar comment. She too was having the same issues with this family. After she finished ranting, she looked at me and said, “By the way, they’re not happy with you either. They went on and on about how unfair you are and don’t help their child when they ask. Seems like they hate all of us.”

              I tried to wrap my brain around these words. How could this family, who’d always been nice and kind to me, turn against me? What had I done?

              The conversation disappeared into the recesses of my brain as the busyness of the week took over. Friday came around and my partner teacher caught me as soon as I walked in the door. “They were talking about you at the ball field. It was awful.” She gave me some more details and asked me what I was going to do about it.

              “Well, to begin with, none of it is true, and anyone who knows me will attest to it. I’m not going to do anything. My work ethic, lifestyle, and teaching will prove who I am in the end.”

              My partner teacher’s mouth fell open and she walked away in disbelief. I went inside my office and prayed. God, please help me treat this family and their child with grace, love, and mercy. You and I know there’s no truth in their words. Let the reality of both our characters be revealed. And let your justice prevail.

              I continued through the rest of the year ignoring the gossip and doing the best job I could in the classroom. Those people never changed, but other parents started correcting them and letting me know what was going on. I clung to the verse mentioned in the beginning of today’s lesson and asked God to take care of them and allow me to stay focused on the goal at hand.

              Did that family ever get the justice they deserve? Were they ever corrected or put in their place? I have no idea. What I do know is that vengeance belongs to the Lord and in the end, good overcomes evil. And I have to trust that God is just in his dealings and will handle those who seek to ruin me with their slander. We all need to take a step back in those heated moments and trust God to hand out vengeance and justice.

Do the Heart Work

1.      Do you trust God to handle people who seek to do you harm?

2.      Do you believe that God is a just God? Why or why not?

3.      How can you teach your students that vengeance belongs to the Lord and that justice will win in the end?

Digging Deeper

1.      Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. Psalm 37:27-29 (ESV)

2.      I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Psalm 140:2 (ESV)

3.      Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. Isaiah 30:8 (ESV)

4.      He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. Psalm 33:5 (ESV)

If You Get Spare Time

              Think about the students in your class and teachers on your hall. Is there anyone who pushes your buttons and easily angers you? Is it hard to forgive? Are you desiring revenge? Ask God to show you the real nature of your heart and spend time in prayer once you know.