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.