This article first appeared in the July 2018 Edition of “Food For Thought” Newsletter that is distributed by John 6 Ministries located in Mt. Pearl, NL, CA
I would like to revisit Romans 12:9-21, like I did last month. It says,
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 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. 20 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.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Last month, I wrote about my own personal experience of battling anger. My focus in that article was the first four words of Romans 12:9, which says, “Love must be sincere.”
All of the instructions that God gives us in this passage are only possible as we commit to loving others with Agapè love. That is the same type of love that God has for us. It is enduring and unconditional. In our own strength and ability, it’s impossible for us to love in this way, but with God’s help, it is possible. If we ask God to give us that type of love for others, He will do exactly that.
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a (NLT) gives us this description of how God defines love…”Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
Over recent years, and especially in the past month – since I opened up about my own struggle with anger, it is surprising to me how many stories I have heard about how envy/jealousy, and holding grudges/records of wrongs have caused anger to become issues in the breakdown of relationships.
When we become familiar with God’s love for us in a deeply personal way, it can change our entire outlook, if we let it. Having the realization of God’s love for me, inspires me to want others to experience that love as well. My prayer is “Lord, please help me show Your love to others, like You have shown it to me.”
We have no reason to be envious or jealous of anyone else, because God loves every one of us completely. He created each of us to be exceptional, and to have specific gifts and talents that make us uniquely us. We are valuable enough to Him that He sent His own Son to die on Calvary’s Cross for us, thus ensuring eternal life for all who believe in Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 54:10 (NIV) reminds us “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Whenever I am tempted to hold a grudge or keep a record of a wrong done to me, it is always a “wake up call” for me to remember Jesus’ attitude of love and forgiveness, even from the Cross – despite all of what had been done to Him, even though He was innocent of any wrongdoing. (see Luke 23:24)
When something is said or done to us that is deeply hurtful, it can be a huge struggle to get to the place of forgiveness. In those situations, it is helpful to remember that 2 Corinthians 4: 8-9 says, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
Our heavenly Father sees and knows everything, including our genuine struggle to keep a Godly attitude in the midst of sometimes unfair circumstances. He promises that He will fight for us (see Deut. 1:30).
When we are willing to surrender our own feelings of hurt and unfairness about the situation, and commit to doing things according to the instructions to us in God’s Word, God can move on our behalf. Romans 12:19 says, “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”
I watched a Christian television program recently where a believer was interviewed about the miracles of healing in Jesus’ name that he had seen in his daily life. He quoted Mark 16:16-18, which says, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
The faith of this gentleman left an impression on me. God said it, he believed it, and he was willing to step out and pray for people for healing and deliverance. God was faithful and people were set free from their health issues and demonic entanglements. Sometimes our journey with the issue of anger and unforgiveness needs to be like that. We just have to do our part and be willing to forgive, and count on God to help us to get there.
God tells us, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). The reality is that we cannot control how another will behave. Some people will accept an offer of love, forgiveness and relationship…and be willing to reciprocate. But, that is not always the case. I believe that is why Scripture says “as far as it depends on you.” If we are sincere in our attempts to live according to God’s ways, we need not live in guilt and condemnation if another does not respond in a conciliatory manner. Others have free will, just like we do.
Our willingness to live in forgiveness is an issue of eternal importance. Matthew 6:14-15 says, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
On that Great and Glorious day when Jesus Christ returns for His Bride – those who have believed in Him and have received Him, may we all be found living in attitudes of love and forgiveness, as we await His invitation to “Come.”
