It's difficult...

When we think of the person/ or persons in our life that have hurt us the most, our thoughts toward them are not kind it seems. But as Disciples of Christ, what is the correct way to respond to those in our lives that have caused us pain, intentional and deliberate pain. Those who, it would be fair to say, are your enemy, who hate you, who despise you. How should we respond to them?

This past Sunday I shared my final message in our Romans 12 study. That message covered the final seven verses of Romans 12 that spoke directly toward a Christian’s response toward those who hate them;  

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ 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. ²⁰ 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.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

This Scripture, for many, is very difficult to read and I’m not sure we know how to react toward it. Part of us, love it, it speaks so true to what we should do, but doing it is another matter. Why? Because, it is very hard to do.

 Throughout Romans 12, we have seen just how a disciple of Christ should respond in their relationship with God, with themselves, and with the community of other believers. These seven verses call us to look at our relationship with our enemies.

The words that Paul writes to the Christians in Rome are fitting for us today. In fact, he is just reiterating what Christ taught in Matthew 5 (The famous “Sermon on the Mount”);


⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I suppose this is one of those things that separates us (Christians) from the rest of the world, Christ is telling us, not only do I want you to love your friends and family and to love people, Jesus says; “don’t just love those who love you.” Instead, Jesus says I want you to be different…I want you to love people who actually hate you. 

Notice Romans 12:14, the word “bless” is used twice. To “bless” is to ask for favor upon, to pray for God’s blessings upon that individual or individuals.  When we have been wronged, when someone has hurt us that seems like the last thing that we would want to do, but somehow in such a great mystery that it is with God, we are called to bless our enemies. I

If there is one thing that can overcome any type of evil, it is the goodness of God. And when the goodness of God is expressed through you, it breaks down walls of hostility and softens the hardest of hearts.

Let me also, just comment on verse 15; “Rejoice w/ those who rejoice and mourn w/ those who mourn.” Fitting words and these words seem to come as an instinct to many of us. When some of my friends and family are celebrating a new birth to the family, a new job, or job promotion…we celebrate and are joyous with them. And when friends are in a time of mourning, a loss of a loved one, sickness…we mourn with them. But here is the deal, I don’t need a commandment to tell me to rejoice and morn with my family and friends, I do however need a commandment, a reminder to mourn and rejoice with those who are my enemy. That is what Paul is telling us here in verse 15, we are to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. The “those” are our enemies, the people who hate us most.

Even though this may seem to be the hardest thing ever to do as Disciple of Christ, when applied, has great impact on your life as well as those around you. Give it a try. If there is someone who has hurt you bad…try applying Romans 12:14-21 and see what happens. Will it be hard? Yes, it will probably one of the hardest things you will ever have to do as a follower of Christ.

For more information check out my whole message @
http://firstmethodisthuron.org/media.php?pageID=6 

Blessings,

Pastor Derek