Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:13-21, NRSV)
I love these verses…
Kill them with kindness is the way we say this now. But I love the imagery of heaping burning coals on the heads of those who persecute us!
But is it easy?
To love your enemies?
To pray for those who persecute you?
To do good to those who hate you?
No. it is not easy. But here is the thing, it really isn’t an option for us.
God told us to do this. So we need to love everyone as our neighbor and repay no one evil for evil.
If we shower them with kindness we will confound them. We will confuse them. and in the end it will be worse for them than if we tried to seek retribution ourselves!
So love them to death and heap away!
aSacredRebel 