May 22, 2020

Today’s reading  Romans 12

Romans 12:17-21 KJV
[17] Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. [18] If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. [19] Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. [20] Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. [21] Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

We come to maybe the most difficult part of this passage where Paul talks about how we should treat our enemies. If we are trying to obey and follow God we will have enemies, and opposition. Jesus had enemies throughout His entire earthly ministry, Paul had numerous enemies as well as we see in his writings. Our tendency is to live by the mantra an eye for an eye isn’t it? They did me wrong so I have to retaliate and get revenge. Verse 17 and 19 cut right through to our hearts doesn’t it? Don’t avenge yourself, let God handle it. Those are great ideas and principles but it almost seems impossible for us sometimes. We (I) want to handle things ourselves. As Christians we are called to live on a higher level and that level says return evil with good, wow!! Of course we have to go back to verses 9-10 because this kind of living requires love, honest love, humble love. I love what Warren Wiersbe said “our task is not to protect ourselves but to obey the Lord and leave the results with Him” that is a mouthful and it’s difficult to live by. The only way to overcome evil is with good, when we return evil with evil that just escalates things and no one comes out for the better. I know I’m nowhere near this level where I return evil with good, but it’s the level we should all be trying to reach.
Frank Newsome