No Evil For Evil.

Rom 12:13  Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 

Rom 12:14  Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 

Rom 12:15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 

Rom 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 

Rom 12:17  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men

We are to help others as we are able to help them meet their needs. We are to bless those who persecute us….bless and NOT curse them.

Yes, we read that right, BLESS THOSE WHO PERSECUTE US, DON'T CURSE THEM.

That's not our first reaction though is it? Our knee-jerk response isn't a blessing, but it should be, shouldn't it? Not too long ago I reacted very badly to someone I perceived had slighted me, and I regretted it shortly afterwards- but not before I behaved badly enough to be ashamed of my reaction. It tears me apart when I act out, lashing out because I'm hurt by something someone does, or says to me. I know I'm NOT supposed to react that way. And right about now some of you may be thinking- but you're only human, it's normal. That's Satan talking to me too saying the same things. Satan wants us to believe that our knee jerk reactions are normal and acceptable. Sure going on to ask for forgiveness is all well and good, but if we excuse our instant reactions because we can ask for forgiveness later, we are deceived. We need to seek to listen, and do that which we are instructed to do. We are told to BLESS those who persecute us. We aren't told to pick and choose who we bless and only bless those who are good to us. We are told to bless those who PERSECUTE US. No one likes to be persecuted. Being persecuted enflames us with all sorts of emotions- anger, sadness, hurt, despair, hatred, the need for revenge.

The word of God goes on to tell us not to recompense evil for evil, but again, our usual first reaction is to do so.

We need to pray and pray hard that we stop reacting as the world has taught us to react, but rather react according to the word of God.

Rom 12:13  Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 

Rom 12:14  Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 

Rom 12:15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 

Rom 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 

Rom 12:17  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men

Giving to others in need, blessing those who hurt us, not cursing them. Rejoicing with those who rejoice….

Again, there are a lot of people who are very quick to get upset with others who are rejoicing because they want to be the ones to rejoice. Too often people will pretend to be happy for others when inside they are crying out- 'Why not me?!' I'm not saying all people are like this, but again it's known and it's something people hide as they pretend to rejoice with others who are rejoicing. Why else would we be instructed to rejoice with those who are rejoicing? 

We are to weep with those who weep… not ignore them and worry about our own pain, but commiserate with others.  We need to feel the pain of others, share the pain. Help each other. We need to love each other, not put on any airs or think we are better than ANYONE else in any way. Too many people believe they are better than others in so many different ways. Yet even the worst of the worst person is still deserving of forgiveness, still caught up by Satan in an awful work. It's hard to fathom as the evildoers commit atrocities that sicken us to our very cores.
 

We can't be wise in our own conceits, we just can't, yet again… it is so easy to do so.

We need to provide things honest to everyone, not pick and choose who deserves our honesty and who doesn't.

Please, Lord, there is SO much we need to learn from You. We need the Holy Spirit working in us, helping us to be Yours.

Too often we excuse ourselves and our humanity, our sinful, fallen humanity, but we have to stop excusing ourselves and start seeking forgiveness as we admit our shortcomings, and seek to LISTEN and do as we are instructed.  There is so much instruction in the Word of God, and no room for any excuses.

Please, Lord, please empty us of all the evil that so easily resides in us, disguising itself as something good.

All through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOR NOW AND FOREVER!!!!!!!