{It’s time to bring back my love of blogging lessons i’ve learned or am learning.}

quick summary of Pastor Milton’s messages on Romans 12:17-21, Overcoming Evil with Good.  

• “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Romans 12:17-18
• “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.” Romans 12:19

For the past three weeks, Pastor Milton has been preaching on Romans 12:17-21.  He preached not to retaliate against people with evil for evil and how it requires no “toughness” to get even since that is our (sinful) nature.  The tough way is to be like Jesus and not retaliate/last back.  He talked about ‘pre-mediating the doing of right in the sight of all men.’  I believe a lot of things do start in your mind (and heart).  I definitely agree that if I meditate on doing good towards people who have wronged me, I find myself slow(er) to anger and quick to respond with God’s love and kindness.  Christ went to the extreme to establish peace between us and God by dying on the cross.  We ought to be going to extreme to establish peace between us and our enemies.  

Another main point was that vengeance/revenge is God’s job.  Let God do his job.  He will punish those who do evil to His children.  God’s wrath is a way of showing how much he loves his children.  If anything, this point promotes us not to do violence as we should leave the vengeance to God! He will do his job perfectly.  

I think today’s message is the hardest to take to heart and put it into action. 

• 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 not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12: 20-21

 ”Do acts of practical kindness to the person who has made himself your enemy.”

“enemy”— someone who you have hostility towards or someone who has hostility towards you at a given moment. 

I think if someone’s done evil towards you, it may be easier to pre-meditate the doing of right towards them & easier to sit back, hold back evil, do nothing, and let God do his job of vengeance someday.  HOWEVER, we are called to DO acts of practice kindness towards the person who has made himself your enemy.  We are to respond in kindness. Now, that is tough.  I can definitely just ignore people who are my “enemies.”  When I read the verses 20-21 today, I thought in my head, “man…why God?? Feed my enemies when they are hungry??  give them water if they are thirsty?? help my enemies when they are in need even though they have done nothing but hurtful things towards me??why..”

Of course, Pastor Milton always leads us back to the gospel and it always blows my mind and heart:

“Rejoice in the fact that you live today on your journey to heaven because somebody (Jesus Christ) has already practiced Romans 12:20 on you.” 

I was so humbled, ashamed, and in awe.  

“For while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his son…” Romans 5:10

Just the fact that God has practiced kindness to us while we were enemies of Christ should be enough reason for us to respond to our enemies with kindness and love.  

Christ died on the cross for us and our sins WHILE we were still his enemy. 

~endless hallelujah~