Deep-seated in each wounded heart is passion to return the hurt, to even the score for how we have been wronged. Our quest for vengeance is as natural as breathing, or thinking—or sinning.

We feel the knife-blade of the cutting words; the dull ache of abandonment; the body blow of assaults upon our character. And sooner than we can imagine any other option, we poison-tip the arrows of our vengeance. It takes no effort—at all—to summon bitter words and deeds. Our tongues grow sharp; our hearts grow narrow; our bodies energize with hate.

And so the gospel of grace speaks to this most painful human reaction: “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,” the Apostle Paul invites us, “just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Eph 4:32). “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone,” he says. “Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Col 3:13).

Only the God who forgave us from the abundance of His grace can teach us to forgive with grace. No other ethic than His love will heal our wounds and make us leave revenge behind.

Grace is God’s healing for our wounds. We need not keep on wounding others.

So stay in grace. -Bill Knott