This totally goes against the grain of our human nature, doesn’t it? What does this verse actually look like for real? The previous verse describes it: Romans 12:20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” This passage is a direct quote of Proverbs 25:21,22 but it missed out the last phrase which says, “And the LORD will reward you.” This is actually what Jesus did. When Jesus was being arrested by the chief priests of Jerusalem so He could be put to trial on a kangaroo court that would condemn Him to death, one of his disciples used his spear and lopped off an ear of a slave of the high priest who was among the arresting party. Jesus told His disciples to stop the resistance at once and He even touched the slave’s ear and healed him. (Luke 22:49-51) What a beautiful picture of pure love, extreme patience, gentleness and compassion in the face of white-hot hatred, violence, deceit, jealousy, conspiracy, lies and pure evil. In fact, the very people who killed Him, the authorities who had Him flogged, humiliated, crushed, trampled and crucified, He died for them, too, not just for you and me. It’s a love revolution that Jesus initiated against Satan’s dominion of darkness, chaos, evil and destruction, the power at work in our world. (1John 5:19) Jesus could have done it the other way, too, but it wasn’t God’s way: Matthew 26:53 Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?” Jesus followed His Father’s way, and got His reward! He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God in Heaven when He finished His assignment of laying down His sinless life on the cross for us, and our sins. He’s still sitting there now ruling the world with His Father. So, what is our reward if we follow His way of love revolution instead of Satan’s way of rebellion? We get to sit along with Jesus at the right hand of the throne of God! (Ephesians 2:5-7) Who would say no to this invitation? I say, “Yesss!”
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Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible, Bible App by YouVersion.com
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Art courtesy of YouVersion Bible app. I am using the Bible App by YouVersion.com for my daily devotion. Download it now for your mobile device. https://j794q.app.goo.gl/nd4yPrGj7Hbhy9Kk8
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