"Revenge"

February 24, 2014

“Revenge”

Blessings folk!

Let us take a moment and review what we have learned to this point from Romans 12 related to OneAnother.

We are to:
  • love without hypocrisy
  • abhor what is evil
  • cling to the good
  • be devoted to OneAnother in brother love
  • not lag in diligence
  • be fervent in spirit
  • serve the Lord
  • rejoice in hope
  • persevere in tribulation
  • be devoted in prayer
  • contribute to the needs of the saints (OneAnother)
  • practice hospitality
  • bless those who persecute us
  • bless, not curse
  • rejoice with those who rejoice
  • weep with those who weep
  • be of the same mind toward OneAnother
  • not be haughty of mind
  • associate with the lowly
  • be not wise in our own estimation
  • never pay back evil for evil...to anyone
  • respect what is right in the sight of all men
  • as far as possible...so far as it depends onus, be at peace with all men.

Of course the question begs to be considered.
Do we live this way?
This is the life of OneAnother...before OneAnother and the world.

Here are the last three verses from Romans 12.
Give heed.

Romans 12:19-21
19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.


Some strong instructions/commands.
Never...never...take your own revenge.
We must leave room for the wrath of God.
The Lord will avenge.
Trust Him.
Take not things into your own hands.

Rather than revenge, we are to provide the needs of our enemy…
We are to feed them…
We are to give them drink…

“Heaping burning coals…”
This is not an avenging of the “nah, nah, nah, nah, nah nah” type.
This speaks of meeting the basic needs of life.
Of providing fire…
Warmth…
Provision…

We live in the Lord.
We trust in the Lord.
We manifest the Love of the Lord...especially to those who would declare themselves our enemies.
We trust the Lord with the outcome and judgment.