"9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
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.
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."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:9-21, ESV)
I wanted to give ample time for each reader to let the words in these Scriptures speak to you before I offer any exegesis. Read the words and let them speak to you (lectio divina), it may be one word, or many. In this masterpiece of what it means to be a Christian we see a common theme. Love is paramount, even to point of loving enemies, being hospitable to them, and repaying evil with honor. Balancing this love is abhorring evil, so we do not become delusional and call evil good. We are encouraged to contribute, to offer money and any aid to fellow Christians and show hospitality. We are not to avoid the lowly, those downcast, but are encouraged to associate with them. We are to rejoice with those who rejoice (like a wedding) and mourn with those who mourn (like at hospital, a loss, and more). We are not avenge outselves, but instead let God be our avenger. Evil is not going to overcome us, but we will overcome it with good (God, Mark 10:18). We are told to live in harmony and peacefully with others. We are commanded to have hope, be fervent in prayer, be patient in tribulation (trials). Rather than slothful in zeal we are to be zealous and seek to serve the Lord (Matthew 6:33). The Apostle tells us to bless those who curse us, and not to curse those who curse us, which alludes to Jesus' own words, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." ((Matthew 5:44).
The Apostle Paul via the Holy Spirit is calling us to reexamine ourselves and see if we are living as Christians should. Are we repaying evil for evil? Are we despairing? Are we loving evil rather than abhorring it? Are we seeking revenge rather than letting Christ avenge us? These questions we must ask ourselves, and seek to model our lives after these words of Scripture as well as the rest of the words contained in the Holy Bible.
I wanted to give ample time for each reader to let the words in these Scriptures speak to you before I offer any exegesis. Read the words and let them speak to you (lectio divina), it may be one word, or many. In this masterpiece of what it means to be a Christian we see a common theme. Love is paramount, even to point of loving enemies, being hospitable to them, and repaying evil with honor. Balancing this love is abhorring evil, so we do not become delusional and call evil good. We are encouraged to contribute, to offer money and any aid to fellow Christians and show hospitality. We are not to avoid the lowly, those downcast, but are encouraged to associate with them. We are to rejoice with those who rejoice (like a wedding) and mourn with those who mourn (like at hospital, a loss, and more). We are not avenge outselves, but instead let God be our avenger. Evil is not going to overcome us, but we will overcome it with good (God, Mark 10:18). We are told to live in harmony and peacefully with others. We are commanded to have hope, be fervent in prayer, be patient in tribulation (trials). Rather than slothful in zeal we are to be zealous and seek to serve the Lord (Matthew 6:33). The Apostle tells us to bless those who curse us, and not to curse those who curse us, which alludes to Jesus' own words, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." ((Matthew 5:44).
The Apostle Paul via the Holy Spirit is calling us to reexamine ourselves and see if we are living as Christians should. Are we repaying evil for evil? Are we despairing? Are we loving evil rather than abhorring it? Are we seeking revenge rather than letting Christ avenge us? These questions we must ask ourselves, and seek to model our lives after these words of Scripture as well as the rest of the words contained in the Holy Bible.
Comments
Post a Comment