M
Romans 12:17-21 NKJV
[17] Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight
of all men. [18] If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably
with all men. [19] Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place
to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
[20] Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him
a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." [21] Do not
be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
I was thinking how if someone is mean, says hurtful things, is nasty,
cheats, gossips, slanderous etc etc. If we reciprocate, we are just spreading it
around. But repaying evil with good, stops evil in its tracks.
Good is the vaccine against evil. How should we administer the vaccine of good?
So often we try take to revenge but vengeance is God's according to these verses.
I heard a funny joke last week sort of explains it well.
A woman dies and goes to the pearly gates. A person is waiting for her and
asks if she is a Christian. She says yes.
So the person says, "you just have to pass a test to get into heaven, spell the word love".
So she spells out l.o.v.e and gets into heaven.
Two years later her husband dies and she goes to meet him at the pearly gates.
She asks how he has been doing.
"Oh it's been fantastic since you died," he replies. "I won the lottery, bought a mansion,
married my secretary. I've been travelling the world, I have my own jet. But then I just
had this little accident so here I am".
"Are you still a Christian," the wife asks.
"Oh yes, I still believe in God".
"Ok then you just have to pass a simple test, spell the word Czechoslovakia!"
[17] Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight
of all men. [18] If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably
with all men. [19] Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place
to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
[20] Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him
a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." [21] Do not
be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
I was thinking how if someone is mean, says hurtful things, is nasty,
cheats, gossips, slanderous etc etc. If we reciprocate, we are just spreading it
around. But repaying evil with good, stops evil in its tracks.
Good is the vaccine against evil. How should we administer the vaccine of good?
So often we try take to revenge but vengeance is God's according to these verses.
I heard a funny joke last week sort of explains it well.
A woman dies and goes to the pearly gates. A person is waiting for her and
asks if she is a Christian. She says yes.
So the person says, "you just have to pass a test to get into heaven, spell the word love".
So she spells out l.o.v.e and gets into heaven.
Two years later her husband dies and she goes to meet him at the pearly gates.
She asks how he has been doing.
"Oh it's been fantastic since you died," he replies. "I won the lottery, bought a mansion,
married my secretary. I've been travelling the world, I have my own jet. But then I just
had this little accident so here I am".
"Are you still a Christian," the wife asks.
"Oh yes, I still believe in God".
"Ok then you just have to pass a simple test, spell the word Czechoslovakia!"
