2000-02-19 - Romans 12

Part 3

Romans 12:14 "Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not."

Matthew 5:44 "but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you; "

The Lord is clear about how we as Christians are to treat those who persecute us. It is not easy to be kind to and to love someone who has hurt you, but Jesus does not give us an option. On our own I do not think this is possible, but through the power of the Holy Spirit I believe it is.

Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep.

This week we attended a meeting at church. During that time each from the group shared personal prayer requests they had. It was good to rejoice in answered prayer and to hurt with those who were hurting. We had a very tough week or so and during our ride to church we were very focused on ourselves and "our" needs. God is so good to remind us that we are not the center of the universe.

Romans 12:16-18 "Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits. Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men.

Titus 2:6-8 "the younger men likewise exhort to be sober-minded: in all things showing thyself an ensample of good works; in thy doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.

My mom used to say "people who live in glass houses should not throw stones." As Christians, we do live in "glass houses." People are always watching to see if we are who we say we are. Do we endeavor to live the Gospel of Christ as well as preach it?

Galatians 1:10 "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ."

Romans 12:19-21 "Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

Matthew 5:46-47 "For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same? Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. "

Vengeance belongs to God. God will repay. It comes back to forgetting about ourselves. We must remember that we laid down our "rights" at the cross. That God is calling us to be witnesses to the world of His love. Not sugar-coated, Valentine's Day love.... but agape love. The kind of love that allows us to love the unlovable.

Could we make Romans 12:1&2 a daily prayer?

Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God"

In His Service,
Rick & Sandy

liv4yeshua@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org