Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 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.”
~ Romans 12:14-19
It’s easy to love those who love us. It’s not easy to bless those who persecute us, but that’s what we’re called to do. We want justice; we want fairness; we want vengeance—at least for ourselves. We want to be forgiven if we wrong someone but want to punish them if they wrong us. Only with the help of the Holy Spirit can we do what we’re commanded to do: forgive, bless, and bring peace.
Heavenly Father, empower me by the Holy Spirit to bless and not curse, to repay good for evil, to leave vengeance to You. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost forever and ever. Amen.
These daily devotions are available in a book The Grace of God, with all profits donated to Love for the Least to share the compassion of Christ with an unreached world. L4L shares the Good News of the Gospel with the least and unreached by making disciples of Jesus who make disciples (2 Tim 2:2) and by helping to meet the physical needs of the poorest of the poor.