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Ask For Prayer


Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 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.” 
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21)

            This may be the toughest part of the tough Romans 12. We like to see “justice.” We want to make sure that people get what we think is coming to them. Sometimes, we insist on it being by our hands. Other times, we are content to sit back and smile as we wait for Karma – or if we claim to be Christians, God – to get’em.
          God isn’t as stupid as we sometimes think Him. Taking our hands off the weapons of our retribution doesn’t fool Him when we sit on the edge of our seats, salivating over the feast of vengeance He’s going to give us. Even feeding and giving water to our enemies doesn’t trick God into thinking that we are good if we are rubbing our hands in anticipation of the heat from the burning coals.
         The desire to bathe in the blood of our enemies runs deep, but it has no place in Christianity. I have heard Christians say that they will not forgive. I have heard Christians say that they will not make a move toward those who have hurt them, that those who have hurt them must prove themselves, must somehow pay for the wrongs that they did and then, and only then will the Christian consider reconciliation. When they are challenged with Scripture, their response is that they are too badly injured. If this is where you are – ask for prayer because healing doesn’t begin until you stop picking at the injury.

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