Verse of the Day 9/16

 

Romans 12:14  Bless those who persecute you [who are cruel in their attitude toward you]; bless and do not curse them.  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

Today's verses is one of those "where rubber meets the road" verses, it is a true test of our faith.  It is one thing to get along with fellow Christians but is quite another to get along with those who are trying to put us down, knock us down or even knock us out.  The call is not to curse them but bless them.

 

John MacArthur summarizes it in a few words, "treat enemies as if they were your friends".  How much better would things go in Washington D.C., in our communities and in our corporate world if that same model was practiced?  There would be a lot less gridlock, there would be a lot more good deeds done,  there would be a lot more understanding of the other point of view.

 

The challenge is that we cannot expect this from others until it is lived out in our lives.  John Piper writes, "God is calling you in this text to be a different kind of person. Not one who wants your adversary to have trouble, but one who wants your adversary to be blessed. And remember that this is radical inner change, not superficial external change. The issue is what you feel in your heart, not just what you do with your fists or your words. "Bless, don't curse" means "from the heart want things to go well with them, both now and forever."

 

We may not have someone who is truly "persecuting" us.  But if we have someone who fights us every step every day what should be in our minds is that in the end, in our hearts we want what's best for them, "now and forever".  There should be "no cursing under your breath". (The Message)

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Romans 12:14-16

The Message (MSG)

^14-16 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.