06/01/2026
Pastor Leroy’s Promise For The Week
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “it is Mine to revenge; I will repay’ says the Lord.” (emphasis added) Romans 12:18-19 NIV
Every so often, we come across a set of Scriptures in the Bible that we wished we never read. Once we have read certain Scriptures, it then becomes our responsibility to apply them to our lives.
We all love reading the beautiful promises found in the Word of God. We also love reading those Scripture verses which speak of God’s unfailing love for us and that He is watching over us. Then there are those Scriptures which speak of the Lord as our Provider, our Healer, our soon-coming King and so forth.
The problem comes when we read Scripture verses which challenge us in areas of our lives we rather not be challenged in. Our promise for this week was one of those tough Scriptures for me to read and apply to my life.
As far back as I can remember, I was a skinny boy who seemed to get picked on a lot in school and I hated it. I got beat up a few times and it left a very bad taste in my mouth.
When our son was getting bullied in high school by one of the football players, because I had to work I told my wife she needed to go to the school and take care of that with the teacher or I would. The anger I had for whoever was picking on my son burned deep in me but being a Christian I knew I had to calm down, but it was hard.
I ended up growing up with a chip on my shoulder, you might say, and I wasn’t about to take anything from anyone, so I thought. I had challenges at the places I worked, the gym where I worked out and other places and I sadly lost some of those challenges.
I would often give certain looks, that I picked up from bad people I once hung around with, to those who thought about messing with me and for the most part it seemed to keep me out of jams.
I had people in church who hurt me, my wife and my children for whatever reason and I so wanted to take revenge. It was then our promise for this week came into play. I would say, Lord could You turn the other way for a second, but the Lord never did and it was very frustrating.
Paul writes, “Leave room for God’s wrath for it was His to revenge, His to repay” As difficult as it was to receive that word for my life, I knew in my heart the Lord was speaking some tough love to me and I need to let the Lord do what needed to be done.
As I have grown in the Lord, I have found it easier not to want to take revenge on those who hurt me or my family but there have been times when it was difficult to do.
The Lord showed me at times I too can be very difficult for others to deal with, and I should be glad those I may have hurt didn’t take out their anger on me.
Having difficulty with someone who has hurt you or your family, and you want so badly to deal with it in your own way? My friend, trust the Lord will take care of your situation and be glorified in everyone’s life….