“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do WHAT IS RIGHT in the eyes of everyone.” (Rom. 12:17) Paul gives us a list of commands, to describe what Christians should expect life in Christ to look like. Taken together, Romans 12 is a very thorough picture of what it means to follow Christ on this side of eternity. Paul now comes to what is a difficult command for many people, including Christians. It is absolutely the example Jesus set for us, however. Paul declares that we must “…resist our natural human instinct for revenge and REFUSE TO EVER PAY BACK EVIL WHEN EVIL IS DONE to us. This would be true whether the person who hurts us is a believer or not. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, LIVE AT PEACE WITH EVERYONE. 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. 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.” (Rom. 12:18-20)
Maintaining fire for the home required careful attention, both through the day and night. If the fire went out, say in the winter in Israel’s north or on the hills of Jerusalem where it snowed, it could result in death. So, when the coal supply depleted, the woman or man of the house might ask a neighbor for a refill in a ceramic pot they carried on their head. A friendly neighbor would likely meet their need, what about an enemy neighbor—but we are being told by Paul to replenish their supply of burning coals ABUNDANTLY. That is doing WHAT IS RIGHT…
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham