Instead of Revenge

Instead of Revenge

Bible: Romans 12:17-21

Reading

If your enemy is hungry, feed him (V.20).

After Jim Elliot and four other Christians were killed by Huaorani Indians in 1956, no one expected what happened next. Jim’s wife, Elisabeth, their young daughter and one of the other Christians’ sisters chose to live among the very people who killed their loved ones. They spent several years living in the Huaorani community, learning their language and translating the Bible for them. These women’s story of forgiveness and kindness showed the Huaorani how much God loved them—and many began to follow Jesus. What Elisabeth and the other ladies did is an incredible example of answering bad with good, instead of trying to get even (ROMANS 12:17). Paul encouraged the church in Rome to show through their actions the change that God had brought into their own lives. What did Paul have in mind? They were to move on from trying to take revenge, and to actually show love to their enemies by meeting their needs and even looking after them. Why do this? Quoting a wise saying from the Old Testament (PROVERBS 25:21-22), Paul said that the kindness shown by Christians to their enemies could win them over and bring them closer to trusting Jesus for themselves. Isn’t that the most important thing for everyone we know too, whether they’re good or bad?

WHAT WILL YOU DO TODAY TO SHOW

GOD’S LOVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE HURT YOU?

                                      Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries