Romans 12:17-21
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 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. 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.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
I think I win the award for the amount of times I’ve been told “let it go” or “life’s not fair”. As I’ve grown up, my heart for justice has reared its head more and more.
Every single one of us has a sinful human nature, and this was just one area that the Lord really wanted to transform within me. I want to preface by saying that having a deep desire for justice isn’t bad. But desiring justice separate from a submission to God’s perfect will lead to a multitude of problems. I believe that God is just, and He does use people to carry out His justice here on Earth. However, God really needed to mature and soften my heart in this area.
My desire for justice paired with my sinful nature created unforgiveness. I thought I was holding people accountable, when I was really holding myself captive. I never gave God the chance to be my defender and protector. I refused to realize how exhausted I had become. Paul’s words to the Romans are an anchor for me as I have let God touch the sensitive areas of unforgiveness within my life.
Unforgiveness is a tactic, or temptation, used by the enemy to divide and distract believers. Unforgiveness often comes across as reasonable, justified, and smart. Withholding forgiveness can make you feel powerful and in control. But it leads nowhere good. I know that if God never softened my heart and gave me understanding in this area, I was heading down a lonely, and bitter path.
This all to say, I have been there. I have felt that itch to talk back, hold the grudge, awkwardly avoid the person who offended me in the lobby, etc. It can feel like you have all the power because you make the decision, but it actually enslaves you. Unforgiveness is a bondage.
This passage in Romans is so much more than an elementary, “share your toys”, encouragement. This passage is the key to living a life free from offense. In fact, Paul’s words even call us to go above and beyond in blessing our enemies.
Unforgiveness limits our ability to accept and receive the forgiveness that has been offered to us. Take some time to consider the habits or conversations you have each day. What do you think that says about your belief in God? Much of our perception of God manifests in the ways that we live. If our lives are filled with gossip, grudges, or venting over and over, that says a lot.
When you begin to recognize the vast amount of forgiveness and second chances that you have been offered through Jesus, it is much easier to forgive others. Forgiveness can begin to appear just!
Choosing forgiveness is not something that you do once, and then everything falls into place. It’s a daily decision. Forgiveness can look like intentional efforts to extend blessing and honor towards those who have hurt you. The Lord is the perfect example of what forgiveness looks like; He is constantly extending it to us! No matter the circumstances, we are called to live peaceably with all!
Living a life free from offense is just one of the many ways that we can be a light in this world. Love keeps no record of wrongs. Love is patient and kind. The world will know that we are followers of Christ based on how we love and forgive!
Listening Prayer:
Invite the Holy Spirit to soften your heart. Ask Him to reveal anyone whom you have withheld forgiveness from. Ask Him for help and guidance as you walk through forgiving and living free from offense.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, thank You for making me Your temple. Thank You for being committed to softening and transforming my heart. I ask that you would help me to forgive those who I have harbored unforgiveness towards. Help me to understand all the ways I have been forgiven and redeemed by Jesus’ sacrifice. Give me the strength to take every thought captive and resist temptation. I want to look more and more like You every single day. Help me to lay every hurt feeling, confusion, and frustration at Your feet. I know that I am forgiven, so I want to extend forgiveness. In Jesus name, Amen.
Resource: Bible Verses on Forgiveness
Ephesians 4:32
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Colossians 3:13
“Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Worship Song: