Romans 12 Part 4
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14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Talk about leaning on the Lord, blessing those who persecute you. One of the hardest things to do is put away a personal attack and forgive someone who has tried to do intentional harm (either physical or emotional) to you or your family. We live in a culture of “an eye for an eye” - if you do something to me, then I will get even. But that is not what is expected of us from God. We are told to bless them, and not curse them. We are to lift them up to the Lord and treat them in the same manner as Christ would have.
What attitude would Christ have taken to someone opposing Him?
Even at a time when Christ had been taken into custody, beaten, whipped, scourged, spat upon, nailed to a cross and then mocked, pay close attention to His words:
34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
We should not wish divine harm to anyone who persecutes us either. As a matter of fact, we extend mercy to them because of the mercy given to us. Remember, they have chosen a life WITHOUT God, which places them in the most pitiful state we could ever see a human in. We should instead pray for their salvation. When we start to see the state of their heart, then it gives us an opportunity to feel the emotion Christ certainly felt towards us when we were also living in sin.
Paul addresses our personal attitude. If our heart is in the right place, we should feel for one another. Happy when other are happy, sad when others are sad, knowing full well that we do not know the exact emotion we empathize with them. This helps us truly look at our inward heart and compare it to our love for our neighbor, as we are commanded to do in Luke 10:27.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Here Paul gets to the meat of the matter. Live in harmony with one another. Our goal should be to live a life where we get along with other believers with the goal being to let other non-believers see what Christianity brings to our lives.
Do we have a positive witness outside the church?
When we:
Gossip?
Speak ill of others?
Disagree with everyone over everything?
Intentionally try to cause harm to others?
We should never forget we are no better than anyone else. We are only forgiven sinners. By causing discord, are we falling into the attitude of sinful pride? Instead we are to associate with the lowly. Remember the old saying “don’t get too big for your britches”? Don’t ever think we have attained a level so high that we look down upon those who are not of our same status. Remember, status is just what we or someone else thinks of us - I would much rather be concerned over what God thinks of me and my actions.
Two wrongs STILL do not make a right. Paul reminds us that we cannot get into the attitude that getting “even” with someone is right.
9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
Remember an “eye for an eye” speaks of public administration of justice, not a personal vendetta.
But Paul also goes on to preface what he earlier said “live peaceably with all” but places a disclaimer “if possible, so far as it depends on you”. There will be some people you will never please. There will be others who seek ill will towards us. There will be some that will continue these attitudes and actions regardless of how we treat them. Let that fall on them, not on us because of our negative actions or reactions. When that happens, sometimes we must disassociate ourselves from those people in an effort to keep peace.
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do we have the right to punish others?
We do not possess the ability to administer divine justice. Again, note that this is not speaking of the governments administration of justice. This speaks to an individual seeking retribution towards another person. Notice the repetition of this theme (verses 14, 17, 19, and 21), and now we are given the reason behind it. “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord”. We cannot judge spiritual matters when we are corrupt, spiritually, also. Spiritual judgment can only come from God, and they will face the wrath of God. Likewise, we will face the wrath of God trying to be His spokesperson without His authority to do so. By doing so, places us on the same level as those who were unjustly accused by those who placed him on the cross. Remember, by accepting the injustice and suffering of the cross, Christ removed God’s wrath from us, and we should remove the desire to place unjust wrath on anyone else. We should be more concerned in showing mercy and grace so they can see the image of Christ in our actions and lead them towards true repentance and faith?
Instead, Paul continues with the theme of giving relief to those in need. He quotes Proverbs 25:21-22 “21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, 22 for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”
We are commanded to do the same as Ezekiel did towards the Syrians who were warring against Israel tried to take him captive.
20 As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
21 As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?”
22 He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”
23 So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.
By extending mercy and showing kindness, it brings shame on those trying to do you harm. We are told in 1 Peter 2:15
15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
Who is the true enemy we fight against?
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
We are not fighting against people, but against the source of evil in this world - Satan. We should be more concerned with seeing them come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made on the cross that we are in getting even with them. By doing so, we overcome evil with good. Even though it is not always going to be effective, it is the most effective plan we have and fulfills the only right method of handling people who persecute us.
How do we respond to those who oppose us? Do we show our humanity, or do we show them Christ? The attitude in which we approach others either “gives them the devil” or “shows them to Christ”. Which do you choose?