“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. IN DOING THIS, YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD, AND THE LORD WILL REWARD YOU.” (Prov. 25:21-22) [I used to think “this is a way to get back at my enemy” but then as I became more and more filled with the spirit of Jesus, I understood that Jesus came to save our enemies just as he did us. Then I read “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21) in verse 20 Paul quotes the above mentioned Proverb. Sometime ago I read about the practice of helping someone who comes to your home whose fire had gone out, which means they could not prepare food nor warm their home so the response was to place hot coals in a pottery container, which they would carry on their head hence “heap burning coals on their head”, an awesome act of kindness!] “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. BE CAREFUL TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE EYES OF EVERYONE.“ (Rom. 12:16-17) [It is by the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, that our souls are maintained life; and the greatest mercy of all is that Christ has made his body and his soul, an offering for sin, he gave himself for us and gives himself to us. Now surely we can do right by one another for the Lord’s sake! What shall we give? Let us give ourselves as an acknowledgment of all these awesome blessings – all we are, all we have, all we can do!] “IF IT IS POSSIBLE, as far as it depends on you, LIVE AT PEACE WITH EVERYONE.” (Rom. 12:18) [Jesus teaches us how to conduct ourselves towards our enemies; and this instruction is different from all other rules and approaches, which generally aim at victory and dominion; but this at inward peace and satisfaction. Whoever are our enemies, wishing us unpleasantness and seeking to do us harm, our rule is to do them no harm, but all the good we can!] “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.” (Rom. 12:19) [Many times in the Old Testament we see God doing amazingly awesome and miraculous things to overcome the enemy!] “For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. SO THEN, JUST AS YOU RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS AS LORD, CONTINUE TO LIVE YOUR LIVES IN HIM, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Col. 2:5-7)
Be blessed as you praise The Lord, knowing that JUST AS YOU RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS AS LORD, CONTINUE TO LIVE YOUR LIVES IN HIM!
-Bill Stockham