Thursday, October 6, 2022

          We often encounter evil in the world today as we experience the sinfulness of others.  There is the natural and human tendency to want to lash out at or against evil and injustice.  If we are not careful, however, we might engage in evil ourselves in response to others and what they have done.  Twice in Romans 12, Paul offered a warning to anyone who might be tempted to respond to evil by doing evil.  He wrote, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:17).  And he wrote, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).  The mandate is clear.  We are to confront evil with goodness and righteousness.  We are not to be “overcome by evil.”  The idea is we are not to allow evil from others to push or to prod us into evil behavior of our own.  Acting sinfully in the face of sin is not a solution.  Likewise, acting unjustly in the face of injustice is not a solution either.  God’s people are to be different.  Indeed, the world has a right to expect God’s people to act like Jesus Christ.  We are His.  We are to follow Him. We are to make His ways our ways.  We are to behave like Him.  It is not a burdensome expectation for the world to expect God’s people to act like His Son.
            Paul gives us a word about how to respond to evil or injustice and those who commit such things against us.  We read, “On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head” (Romans 12:20).  Repaying injustice with compassion and repaying evil with goodness is God’s way.  And since this is God’s way, it must become our way too.  We gain nothing by going toe-to-toe and blow-by-blow with those who do evil.  We are to rise above such things and live with grace.  Grace is the response of the believer toward those who are hard-hearted and bitter.  Kindness is the response toward those who rail against us.  To be sure, these responses are hard.  But we respond with the help of Christ and the strength He supplies.
            If we need any more clarity, God tells us that He will personally deal with the evil and injustice that we encounter.  His response will be perfect and decisive.  Paul wrote, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).  We trust God to settle scores and accounts that others may have run up against us.  When we repay evil with evil, we likely only escalate the situation and make matters much, much worse.  Escalation usually leaves behind a trail of brokenness and pain for all.  The Bible says we are to fix our eyes upon Christ.  Why?  If we make a priority out of seeing Christ and serving Christ in all matters, we are not likely to get sidetracked by fruitless battles and petty squabbles.  Leave the big things and small things to God as we make a point to live like His Son.  Remember we will enjoy our communal lunch after worship this Sunday.  Bring along a dish or two to share.  Join us as we worship and study God’s Word together.  And remember you can share worship at youtube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.

No Comments


Recent

Archive

 2023

Categories

Tags

Acts Bible Communion Cross God's will God\'s will God Gospels Holy Spirit Holy Week Jesus Joseph Lent Peter Reformation Satan accountability action advent all saints allegory anger anxiety apologetics atonement awareness awe backsliding baptism beginning beloved betrayal bitterness blessing born again burden burnout calling care change character chistmas choices christian living christmas church history church circumcision comfort commitment community compassion complacency confession confidence consequences contentment control conversation cost courage creation death debt deception decisions deliverance denial dependence depth desire despair determination devotion direction discernment discipleship discouragement dishonesty disobedience distractions doctrine doubt dreams eagerness emotion encouragement end times endurance equality eternal life eternity evangelism evil example facing battles faithful living faithfulness faith family fatigue fear fellowship focus follow foreshadowing forgiveness foundation freedom friends fruit of the Spirit future generosity gifts giving glory goodness gospel grace grateful gratitude greed grit growth guidance guilt halloween happiness healing heart heaven help history holiday holiness home honesty hope humble humility identity impossible incarnation inspiration instruction integrity intentional jealousy journey joy judgment justice justification kindness kingdom knowing God lament law leadership lead lies life listening love martin luther maturity measure memorial memories mentoring mercy messiah minor prophets miracles missions mission mistakes motives mountaintops mourning music nation nativity nature new year new next generation obedience obstacles offering omniscience opportunity opposition overcoming parenting passion path patience peace pentecost persecution perseverence perspective plan poetry power praise prayer preparation presence pressure pride priorities process prodigal progress promise prophecy protection provision psalm purpose rebellion reconcile redemption refuge rejoice relationship remember remembrance renewal renown repentance resentment resolution restoration rest resurrection return revenge revival righteousness risk sacrifice sadness salt salvation sanctification scripture second coming seeking God self-control serenity sermon service shame sharing silence sincerity sin solitude sorrow sovereignty spiritual disciplines standard star stewardship storms strength struggle stubbornness stuck submission success suffering surrender talents talking temple temptation ten commandments testimony testing thankfulness thankful thanksgiving theology time tithes tough times traditions transfiguration trials trinity troubles trust truth veterans victory vision waiting warning weakness wisdom wise men witness wonder work worship