Devotion

A grudge often feels like protection. We replay the offense, keep a record of it, and convince ourselves that holding tightly to it will keep us from being hurt again. Yet God speaks directly to that hidden habit: do not avenge, and do not carry a grudge. He does not minimize wrong. He calls us to release personal vengeance to Him.

Loving a neighbor does not mean ignoring wise boundaries or pretending trust has been restored overnight. It means refusing to make another person’s failure the place where our own heart becomes hard. Love seeks what is right without feeding resentment. It speaks truth without delighting in punishment. It remembers that every person stands in need of the mercy of God.

The command ends with a simple foundation: I am the LORD. We are able to release revenge because God sees, God judges rightly, and God has shown us grace. His love gives us a different way to respond when we are wounded.