You Don’t Have To Be The Judge

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

June 28th Sermon, Day 1

When someone hurts us, something inside us wants to make it right. We replay the moment, rehearse what we should have said, and sometimes imagine what we might still do. That desire for justice is deeply human. But Jesus, in Matthew 5:43-44, flips the script entirely. He tells His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them.

This isn't a call to pretend the hurt didn't happen. It's an invitation to stop carrying something that was never meant to be yours. God is already the judge. He sees everything. Nothing escapes His attention. When we choose to love instead of retaliate, we're not letting someone off the hook. We're handing the situation to Someone far more capable of handling it than we are.

That's actually good news. You don't have to figure out how to make things right. You don't have to carry the weight of unresolved wrongs. You can place the person, the pain, and the outcome into God's hands and trust that He will act according to His perfect justice. That kind of trust isn't weakness. It's one of the most courageous things a follower of Jesus can do.

Bible Verse

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." - Matthew 5:43-44

Reflection Question

Is there a situation in your life where you have been holding onto the role of judge, and what might it look like to hand that role back to God?

Quote

"Nothing escapes God's attention."

Prayer

Father, I confess that I often want to handle things myself rather than trust You. Help me to release the weight of unresolved wrongs and trust that You are a just and faithful God. Amen.