1 Thessalonians 5:15 – “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men”.
There are moments in life when pain feels personal and justice feels urgent. Someone says something cruel, breaks a promise, abandons trust, or walks away when you needed them most. In those moments, the desire for revenge can feel natural—even reasonable. After all, when wounds are fresh, our hearts often whisper: They deserve to feel what I felt.
We tell ourselves that consequences will teach them. That fairness requires equal pain. That restoring balance means giving back what was given to us.
But the way of God often leads us down a different path—one that challenges our instincts and stretches our hearts.
The apostle Paul, writing to believers in Thessaloniki, offered a simple yet radical instruction: do not repay evil with evil, but pursue what is good for everyone. It is a message that still speaks directly into our modern struggles with offense, betrayal, and disappointment.
THE PULL TOWARD RETRIBUTION
Let’s be honest: forgiveness rarely comes naturally. Hurt has a way of rehearsing itself in our minds. We replay conversations, imagine confrontations, and silently build a case proving why our anger is justified.
AND PERHAPS IT IS JUSTIFIED.
Yet living in that space comes at a cost. Unforgiveness quietly shapes our inner world. Bitterness hardens the heart. Anxiety lingers. Peace becomes difficult to find. What began as someone else’s wrongdoing slowly becomes our own prison.
Choosing good instead of retaliation doesn’t mean pretending the hurt never happened. It doesn’t ignore wisdom or healthy boundaries. Rather, it means refusing to let pain define our response or dictate who we become.
A DIFFERENT STANDARD OF LOVE
The teaching of Jesus echoes this same calling—treat others the way you would want to be treated, even when they fail you. This isn’t weakness; it’s strength shaped by grace.
When we respond with kindness instead of revenge, we step into a deeper freedom. We stop allowing another person’s actions to control our inner peace. Love becomes an act of courage rather than convenience.
But this path raises an uncomfortable question: Have we ever been the one who caused hurt?
Most of us have, in one way or another. We’ve spoken carelessly, misunderstood someone, withdrawn when we should have stayed, or fallen short of what others needed from us. None of us lives without moments of failure.
Recognizing our own imperfections softens our judgment. It reminds us that mercy is something we all need.
MERCY, WE DIDN’T EARN
The heart of the Christian message is not that people earn love, but that love is given freely. Instead of receiving condemnation, humanity is offered compassion and restoration.
Nowhere is this clearer than in the example of Christ’s sacrifice. Even in unimaginable suffering, He spoke words of forgiveness, choosing mercy over retaliation. That moment reveals a powerful truth: grace is often most visible when it is least deserved.
And if mercy has been extended to us, we are invited to extend it to others—not because they have earned it, but because we understand what it means to receive the undeserved.
FORGIVENESS AND BOUNDARIES CAN COEXIST
Forgiveness does not mean removing wisdom from the equation. Sometimes reconciliation is possible; sometimes distance is necessary for healing. Healthy boundaries are not signs of resentment but expressions of self-respect and clarity.
The goal is not to erase consequences but to remove hatred from the heart. Forgiveness says, I release the need to hurt you back. It chooses healing over endless emotional debt.
CONQUERING EVIL WITH GOOD
Every day presents small choices: an unkind comment, a moment of rejection, a misunderstanding. Each one invites a decision—will we continue the cycle of hurt, or will we interrupt it with grace?
Choosing good does not always change the other person. But it changes us. It restores peace, protects our hearts, and reflects the love we ourselves have received.
When we respond with mercy, we honour a greater story—one in which love has the final word and goodness proves stronger than revenge.
So today, perhaps the invitation is simple: release what you hoped revenge would fix, and step into the freedom that forgiveness offers. What feels undeserved may be exactly what transforms us.
Amen.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Revenge feels natural when we are hurt, but it rarely brings lasting peace:
Choosing good over retaliation breaks the cycle of pain.
Unforgiveness can quietly trap us in bitterness and anxiety:
Forgiveness frees the heart even when circumstances remain difficult.
We all fail others in different ways at different times.
Remembering our own need for grace softens our response to others.
Mercy is not earned; it is given:
Extending compassion reflects the grace we have received ourselves.
Forgiveness does not eliminate wisdom or healthy boundaries:
Peace and protection can coexist in a mature response.
Doing good in return for hurt transforms us from the inside out:
Love becomes a deliberate choice, not just a feeling.
