Read the Word:
Romans 12:17-21
Meditate on the Word:
It can be very difficult to live at peace with everyone. Some people simply refuse to be peaceful. Some people have a spirit of anger, hatred, or abuse as chief of their defining characteristics. Jesus experienced these people. In fact, He went to the cross praying for them, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.” Apostle Paul, the human author of our passage, certainly had his experiences with people who were not peaceful. He was beaten, jailed, and stoned for his message of Christ. As one who used to do the beating, jailing, and killing, Paul, after encountering Christ, had a new appreciation for Proverbs 25:21-22, which he quotes here.
There will be times when people simply refuse to live in peace with us. We cannot help that. But we also do not have permission to take matters into our own hands. Vengeance belongs to God because He is the only one without sin. Our vengeance is merely hypocrisy. If we cannot live at peace with someone, we are still obligated to show kindness to them.
Pray the Word:
Ask our Lord to reveal to you a kindness that you can do for an enemy. Then do it.
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