Nothing is more costly, nothing is more sterile, than vengeance.
Winston Churchill (1874-1965, British statesman, Prime Minister)
Romans 12:18-21
If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord. But, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. (HCSB)
“Don’t gloat when your enemy falls, and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, or the Lord will see, be displeased, and turn His wrath away from him.” We find this instruction in Proverbs 24:17. If that is not enough we can go on to Proverbs 25:21 and find again the words Paul gave us in vs 20 above.
We can go to the New Testament and find in the stoning of Steven the words he spoke before he fell asleep, “Lord, hold not this sin against them.” The most famous of all quotes also rings in our ears, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” So, why is it that God insists that we take no part in vengeance and hatred? It’s because He knows of its affect on the human heart.
Heaping fiery coals may have originated from the Egyptian practice of carrying fiery coals on the head for atonement of sin. So, what upsets the balance more than unexpected forgiveness when you are wronged? It overloads the senses, for it is not the worlds way. God knows that if getting even is in our heart that hate is in there too, and He will not act on our behalf, unless forgiveness takes place first…God’s Blessings.
Pastor William
Winston Churchill (1874-1965, British statesman, Prime Minister)
Romans 12:18-21
If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord. But, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. (HCSB)
“Don’t gloat when your enemy falls, and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, or the Lord will see, be displeased, and turn His wrath away from him.” We find this instruction in Proverbs 24:17. If that is not enough we can go on to Proverbs 25:21 and find again the words Paul gave us in vs 20 above.
We can go to the New Testament and find in the stoning of Steven the words he spoke before he fell asleep, “Lord, hold not this sin against them.” The most famous of all quotes also rings in our ears, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” So, why is it that God insists that we take no part in vengeance and hatred? It’s because He knows of its affect on the human heart.
Heaping fiery coals may have originated from the Egyptian practice of carrying fiery coals on the head for atonement of sin. So, what upsets the balance more than unexpected forgiveness when you are wronged? It overloads the senses, for it is not the worlds way. God knows that if getting even is in our heart that hate is in there too, and He will not act on our behalf, unless forgiveness takes place first…God’s Blessings.
Pastor William
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