Saturday, January 25, 2014

Romans 12:14-18

Passage

Bless those who persecute you.  Bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice.  Weep with the ones who are weeping.  While having the same attitude into one another, while not having a haughty attitude but while being associated with the humble, do not become wise in your own sight.  While not repaying evil for evil, while having in mind to do good in the sight of all mankind, if the power is out of you all while living at peace with all mankind.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Having spoken about love, Paul now turns to community.   He gives us three very prominent theories about community living in these verses.  First, Paul tells us to bless the people around us.  Anyone can curse their enemies.  But only someone whose agenda is not rooted in this world can actually bless their enemies.  Having a relationship with God implies that we can look upon the people around us with a perspective that is different from the world.

Do you find it easy to have enemies?  Do you find it easy to bless your enemies and desire the best for them?  What benefit is there to blessing your enemies?

Second Thought:

The second thought that Paul gives us in this passage is one of humbleness.  Paul tells us to not be haughty.  He tells us to be associated with the humble.  He tells us to not be wise in our own sight.  This has two effects.  The first effect is that it allows us to take the focus off of ourselves and instead put the focus upon God.  The second effect is that it makes us approachable to others.  When we are not caught up in our own greatness other people can come and learn from what God is doing in our midst.

Are you successful at being humble?  Do you think yourself wise in your own sight?  Why are you more approachable when you aren’t focused on your own greatness?

Third Thought:

The third thought Paul gives us is that we should live at peace with one another as much as is within our power.  The first two thoughts naturally lead to this third thought.  If we are not cursing our enemies we will not feel the need to repay evil for evil done to us.  If we are not haughty, we will be willing to be in fellowship with our neighbors rather than be in competition with them.  When we are at peace with mankind, we can truly do good with and to one another.

How often do you feel like you are at peace?  How often are you able to do go to your fellow man?


Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 12:19-21

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