Repay?

Romans 12:17-21

“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

This is one of those passages of scripture that many like to read quickly and move on.  After all, look at the list of what God tells us to do... 

Repay evil with good...

Do what’s honorable when the other person hasn’t been honorable...

Live peaceably with others when they don’t deserve it...

Don’t seek revenge...

Be kind to our enemies...

How?  Why?  Doesn’t seem fair does it.   The world screams to get even... and God says don’t.  Our friends tell us to make them pay... and God says “Trust Me, I’ll take care of it.”  Why would anyone follow these directives?  Why would anybody treat people better than they were treated?  Why would someone give up their right to settle things their own way?

Simple.  Because that’s what Christ did.  Sinless Christ.  The King of Kings.  All man... all God... perfect and unblemished.  He climbed up and let His own creation nail Him to a cross... pierce His side with a spear... put a crown of ragged thorns on His head… And as people mocked and spit at Him.... He was forgiving those doing it before the saliva could even dry.  So much injustice... so much undeserved hatred toward the Son of God...

Met with so much love.  Jesus chose to show compassion and forgive.  Why should we waive our right at revenge?  Because Christ did.

I can imagine your thoughts as you read this....  Pastor, you don’t know what they did.  If I treat them this way...they win, don’t they?  If I turn the other cheek...they’ll just hit me on that one too....Jesus didn’t say it would be easy...  But real growth...real faith... real and long lasting change never is.  Resist the urge to dismiss these verses as impossible.  Don’t give in to the enemy telling you that this doesn’t apply...  doing the Godly thing is rarely popular or easy...

However, it is obedient.  It is blessable.  And it is always the right choice... 

Make Room

When pop culture icon Andy Warhol died in 1987, he left behind more than just art.  As estate executors went in to clean out his home, they discovered a mountain of clutter.  His five story New York house was so packed full of objects of all kinds that at the time of his death, Andy lived in just two small rooms.  

Sometimes I wonder if we do something similar in our minds.  We live with clutter.  Past messes, mistakes, and missteps...  Things we haven’t forgiven ourselves for take up space... forcing us to live small, cramped, and restricted lives.  If that’s you... it’s time to make some room.  Remember, when we ask God to forgive us, Psalm 103 tells us that He does and separates us forever from what we did wrong.  Box up and throw out those things that have tried to define you, confine you, and remind you of the past.  Dance in the new open space and celebrate the second chances that Christ so mercifully gives.  

Loving Care

One day a young boy was eating potato chips and had made a terrible mess on the floor.  His father entered the room, noticed the mess, and told his son that he would clean it up for him.  The boy quickly replied... “No dad, I’ll do it!”  The dad thought a second and said, “No, if I let you do it, you’re going to make a bigger mess.”  The boy protested... “No I won’t!”  So the father relented and let his son clean up the chips.

The result?  As expected, the boy made a bigger mess.   

When we hear this story, we can be too quick to dismiss it as something only a child would do.  But take a second and think about it... don’t we do the same thing with God?  Time after time in scripture He tells us that He will take care of things for us... revenge, provision, fulfillment, peace.. and so much more.   Yet, we tell God all the time... “I’ve got it!”  And the result, a bigger mess.  Proverbs 21:2 says “A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart”   God knows best... and when we try to help Him handle our lives, we typically just make things more complicated.  Make the commitment today to take God at His word... Let Him do what He says He wants to do for us... and praise Him when you experience the blessing of His loving care.

Darts

A young lady named Sally relates an experience she had in a seminary class given by her teacher, Dr. Smith. She says Dr. Smith was known for his elaborate object lessons. One particular day, Sally walked into the seminary and knew they were in for a fun day. On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Dr. Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry, and he would allow them to throw darts at the person’s picture. Sally’s girlfriend drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her boyfriend at the person’s picture.  Sally’s girlfriend drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on the face. She was pleased with the overall effect she had achieved. The class lined up and began throwing darts. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Dr. Smith, because of the time limits, asked the students to return to their seats. As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn’t have a chance to throw any darts at her target, Dr. Smith began removing the target from the wall. Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus. A hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced. Dr. Smith quoted this scripture…

 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”  Matthew 25:40

No other words were necessary; the tear-filled eyes of the students focused only on the picture of Christ.

Revenge.  Anger.  Bitterness.  Unforgiveness.  Hatred.  

We all think these emotions can be controlled...directed toward someone who has done us wrong.  Today’s scripture reminds us that as we treat others... we are treating the One who started our heart beating. 

When we serve the needy... we are serving Christ.

When we are hurting someone with our words, actions, or thoughts... we are hurting the heart of Christ. 

He wants what’s best for us... and His Word tells us time and time again to love Him first and then love everyone else.  Today we will have a chain of decisions to make.  Each one, an opportunity to do the right thing (even when it’s hard).  Which will we choose?  Both reflect what we’re feeling on the inside.  

I pray that each of us would choose to not give others who have hurt us what we think they deserve... but, instead, extend to them the same grace we ourselves receive from Christ each day.  

Choose to forgive.

Choose to leave the past where it belongs.

Choose to make the first move toward reconciliation.

Choose to serve.

Choose to love like Christ.

It’s easier to get even... it’s maturity when we can control those emotions and give our challenges to God.  

Remember, as we treat others, we are treating Jesus.  

Will we throw a dart?

Or will we offer a fresh start? 

Sweetness

The other day I read an interesting fact about honey.  Did you know that germs cannot live in honey because it’s too sweet?   It’s true.  The sugar in the honey causes the water part of the bacteria to evaporate… thus killing the bad germ.  Similarly, that’s why jellies can be put into jars and kept indefinitely without fear of contamination. It’s the sugar… the sweetness.. that makes all the difference.  

As we think about our world today,  many would tell you that the way to deal with the corruption and evil is to seek revenge.  After all, if we are wronged… they have it coming.  We hurt… they should hurt.  However, scripture tells us differently.  In fact, we are told in Luke 6 that we should “return good for evil”  and in Proverbs 16:24… that it is gracious words (like a honeycomb) that brings “healing to the bones”.  God says when the world wants to sour us… reply with kindness.  Turn the other cheek.  Extend the olive branch.  Allow God’s sweetness in our heart to drive out the bitterness of what the flesh might want us to do.   It may not be our first reaction…. but the more often we choose it… the closer to Christ we will be.  

Getting Even

“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;

    I will pay them back,”

    says the Lord.

Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.

    If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap

    burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”  Romans 12:19-21

As a fan of the TV show, “Law and Order”, I often watch the show with a sense of expectation.   In 60 minutes, I expect the one who commits the crime to be captured and swiftly brought in to answer for the misdeed.  And before the credits roll,  a judge should sentence said criminal to an appropriate amount of time behind bars.  I expect justice to be done and all those that were offended against to be given a sense of closure. 

But that’s just a TV show and oftentimes things don’t work that way.  We hear of or experience wrongs that aren’t made right...  and we cry out for justice.  But if we’re not careful... what we find is that we’re not really looking for fairness...we just want to see things made even.  It’s called revenge.  And it isn’t ours to pursue.  Scripture tells us in Romans 12 that making things right is God’s role.  He is ultimately the One that settles the matter.  He rights the wrongs... punishes the wicked... and is the only worthy judge.  If you find yourself angry that the scales of justice seem broken... don’t worry... God’s got this... and His verdict is both perfect and eternal.  

Repay?

At the end of the Civil War, President Lincoln was asked how he was going to treat Southerners when they returned to the Union. The questioner expected that Lincoln would be bitter... vengeful... certainly he would make them earn their way back in... His answer... "I will treat them as if they had never been away."

An unusual response.  After all, the Southerners that had seceded from the Union had killed thousands of northern soldiers... destroyed property... and seemed to support everything the North had fought to change.  Why wouldn’t Lincoln make them pay?  Why didn’t the president seek to even the score... make them come crawling back... cause them to suffer for what they had done?  History wouldn’t have blamed him, right?

Why didn’t Lincoln do these things?  Because he understood the truth as told in Romans 12:17-21

“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

This is one of those passages of scripture that many like to read quickly and move on.  After all, look at the list of what God tells us to do... 

Repay evil with good...

Do what’s honorable when the other person hasn’t been honorable...

Live peaceably with others when they don’t deserve it...

Don’t seek revenge...

Be kind to our enemies...

How?  Why?  Doesn’t seem fair does it.   The world screams to get even... and God says don’t.  Our friends tell us to make them pay... and God says “Trust Me, I’ll take care of it.”  Why would anyone follow these directives?  Why would anybody treat people better than they were treated?  Why would someone give up their right to settle things their own way?

Simple.  Because that’s what Christ did.  Sinless Christ.  The King of Kings.  All man... all God... perfect and unblemished.  He climbed up and let His own creation nail Him to a cross... pierce His side with a spear... put a crown of ragged thorns on His head… And as people mocked and spit at Him.... He was forgiving those doing it before the saliva could even dry.  So much injustice... so much undeserved hatred toward the Son of God...

Met with so much love.  Jesus chose to show compassion and forgive.  Why should we waive our right at revenge?  Because Christ did.  And it’s Christ who we are trying to be like.  Kindness, compassion, love, forgiveness, honor, and peaceful resolution.  It’s easy to live these out with people we get along with.  The true act of worship?  The real indicator as to the depth of our faith?  

Doing the right thing when we’ve been treated the wrong way.  

I can imagine your thoughts as you read this....  Pastor, you don’t know what they did.  If I treat them this way...they win, don’t they?  If I turn the other cheek...they’ll just hit me on that one too....

Jesus didn’t say it would be easy...  But real growth...real faith... real and long lasting change never is.  

Resist the urge to dismiss these verses as impossible.  Don’t give in to the enemy telling you that this doesn’t apply...  doing the Godly thing is rarely popular or easy...

However, it is obedient.  It is blessable.  And it is always the right choice...  

Releasing the Revengeful Heart

2013 marked the final year in the life of one of the world’s most influential leaders:  Nelson Mandela.  Held in prison for 27 years, he bravely stood against the oppressive rule of Apartheid.  The day he was released from jail, Mandela was quoted as saying “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”

Freedom.  Real freedom.  Have you ever experienced it?  Have you ever been imprisoned by those feelings that could have easily trapped Nelson Mandela?

Bitterness.  Hatred.

Feelings that if left unchecked can place a cage over our life… subjecting us to years of cruel imprisonment.  When we let them overwhelm us, we torture ourselves… poisoned by our own unwillingness to move on.  Ephesians 4:31 tells us to “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger…”  How do we do that?  Discover the key to the cell…  Forgiveness.  Not forgetfulness.  Not acting like it didn’t happen.  Not pretending that everything is erased.  Just forgiving those that caused the pain… releasing the revengeful heart so that you can walk into the sunlight of the rest of your life.   Forgiveness isn’t for them.  They may not have asked for it or even deserve it.  It’s for you.  It’s your opportunity to get past your past… to learn from the pain… and experience the freedom that comes from following Christ’s example.

His Verdict

“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;

    I will pay them back,”

    says the Lord.

Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.

    If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap

    burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”  Romans 12:19-21

As a fan of the TV show, “Law and Order”, I often watch the show with a sense of expectation.   In 60 minutes, I expect the one who commits the crime to be captured and swiftly brought in to answer for the misdeed.  And before the credits roll,  a judge should sentence said criminal to an appropriate amount of time behind bars.  I expect justice to be done and all those that were offended against to be given a sense of closure. 

But that’s just a TV show and oftentimes things don’t work that way.  We hear of or experience wrongs that aren’t made right...  and we cry out for justice.  But if we’re not careful... what we find is that we’re not really looking for fairness...we just want to see things made even.  It’s called revenge.  And it isn’t ours to pursue.  Scripture tells us in Romans 12 that making things right is God’s role.  He is ultimately the One that settles the matter.  He rights the wrongs... punishes the wicked... and is the only worthy judge.  If you find yourself angry that the scales of justice seem broken... don’t worry... God’s got this... and His verdict is both perfect and eternal.  

Sweetness

The other day I read an interesting fact about honey. Did you know that germs cannot live in honey because it’s too sweet? It’s true. The sugar in the honey causes the water part of the bacteria to evaporate… thus killing the bad germ. Similarly, that’s why jellies can be put into jars and kept indefinitely without fear of contamination. It’s the sugar… the sweetness.. that makes all the difference.

As we think about our world today, many would tell you that the way to deal with the corruption and evil is to seek revenge. After all, if we are wronged… they have it coming. We hurt… they should hurt. However, scripture tells us differently. In fact, we are told in Luke 6 that we should “return good for evil” and in Proverbs 16:24… that it is gracious words (like a honeycomb) that brings “healing to the bones”. God says when the world wants to sour us… reply with kindness. Turn the other cheek. Extend the olive branch. Allow God’s sweetness in our heart to drive out the bitterness of what the flesh might want us to do. It may not be our first reaction…. but the more often we choose it… the closer to Christ we will be.

Even

“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;

    I will pay them back,”

    says the Lord.

Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.

    If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap

    burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”  Romans 12:19-21

As a fan of the TV show, “Law and Order”, I often watch the show with a sense of expectation.   In 60 minutes, I expect the one who commits the crime to be captured and swiftly brought in to answer for the misdeed.  And before the credits roll,  a judge should sentence said criminal to an appropriate amount of time behind bars.  I expect justice to be done and all those that were offended against to be given a sense of closure. 

But that’s just a TV show and oftentimes things don’t work that way.  We hear of or experience wrongs that aren’t made right...  and we cry out for justice.  But if we’re not careful... what we find is that we’re not really looking for fairness...we just want to see things made even.  It’s called revenge.  And it isn’t ours to pursue.  Scripture tells us in Romans 12 that making things right is God’s role.  He is ultimately the One that settles the matter.  He rights the wrongs... punishes the wicked... and is the only worthy judge.  If you find yourself angry that the scales of justice seem broken... don’t worry... God’s got this... and His verdict is both perfect and eternal.  

Clean Up

One day a young boy was eating potato chips and had made a terrible mess on the floor.  His father entered the room, noticed the mess, and told his son that he would clean it up for him.  The boy quickly replied... “No dad, I’ll do it!”  The dad thought a second and said, “No, if I let you do it, you’re going to make a bigger mess.”  The boy protested... “No I won’t!”  So the father relented and let his son clean up the chips.

The result?  As expected, the boy made a bigger mess.   

When we hear this story, we can be too quick to dismiss it as something only a child would do.  But take a second and think about it... don’t we do the same thing with God?  Time after time in scripture He tells us that He will take care of things for us... revenge, provision, fulfillment, peace.. and so much more.   Yet, we tell God all the time... “I’ve got it!”  And the result, a bigger mess.  Proverbs 21:2 says “A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart”   God knows best... and when we try to help Him handle our lives, we typically just make things more complicated.  Make the commitment today to take God at His word... Let Him do what He says He wants to do for us... and praise Him when you experience the blessing of His loving care.   

How to Get Even

“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;

    I will pay them back,”

    says the Lord.

Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.

    If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap

    burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”  Romans 12:19-21

As a fan of the TV show, “Law and Order”, I often watch the show with a sense of expectation.   In 60 minutes, I expect the one who commits the crime to be captured and swiftly brought in to answer for the misdeed.  And before the credits roll,  a judge should sentence said criminal to an appropriate amount of time behind bars.  I expect justice to be done and all those that were offended against to be given a sense of closure. 

But that’s just a TV show and oftentimes things don’t work that way.  We hear of or experience wrongs that aren’t made right...  and we cry out for justice.  But if we’re not careful... what we find is that we’re not really looking for fairness...we just want to see things made even.  It’s called revenge.  And it isn’t ours to pursue.  Scripture tells us in Romans 12 that making things right is God’s role.  He is ultimately the One that settles the matter.  He rights the wrongs... punishes the wicked... and is the only worthy judge.  If you find yourself angry that the scales of justice seem broken... don’t worry... God’s got this... and His verdict is both perfect and eternal.