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As we come to the end of Romans 12, we see the marks or characteristics of a follower of Jesus. These characteristics are an outflow of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives if we will cooperate with the Holy Spirit. He will empower us to grow in these characteristics that God desires for His followers.
How many of us want to get revenge, pay back, make people hurt for what they have done to us? How many of us want to get back at what people have said or done to us in life?
But then we read these verses, and in the flesh there is no way that we can live this out. Thank God for the Holy Spirit who works in us before He can work through us.
Romans 12:19-21 are verses we may not like; we may want to skip over them and not follow them in our everyday life.
“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”
How many have ever heard the statement, “When they go low, we go higher.” Revenge will never make us feel better. Revenge, hatred, anger, only poisons us and our spirit. We need to allow the Lord to defend us as His followers. It may not be in our time, but God is faithful, and He will reveal the truth.
God is patient! I am thankful that God is patient with me. But we need to remember that God is patient with us, but one day judgment will come.
Lord, help me to remember: “Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” Lord, empower me to live this out in my life! Because “Without you I can do nothing.” “But I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pastor Ronald Squibb has been the International Christian Center (ICC) Lead Senior Pastor at Staten Island, New York, since 2011. He draws on many experiences from his over 40 years as a pastor and from significant emotional experiences.
His new book, Following the Journey with Jesus, which he co-authored with Daniel McNaughton, was recently published and is receiving rave reviews. The daily devotion appears in this publication.
