Dealing with your Enemies

Dealing with enemies

¹⁴Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. ¹⁵Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. ¹⁶Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. ¹⁷Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. ¹⁸If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. ²⁰Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. ²¹Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. -- Romans 12:14-21

Verse 14 -- Resist your natural response

Doing good to someone who has done us wrong contradicts our natural instinct. Let Christ be your example.

Read Luke 22:47-51

Read 1 Corinthians 2:14

Verse 15 -- Put yourself in his place

This is empathy, the ability to identify with others, versus sympathy, which is feeling sorry for others. Read John 11:33-35

We should try to identify with our enemies to find out "where they're coming from."

A popular 60's folk song said, "Walk a mile in my shoes, before you shout and accuse, walk a mile in my shoes."

Verse 16 -- Live in harmony

We can live in harmony, even with our enemies, if we have humility. Read 1 Peter 2:17-23

" …condescend to men of low estate" can also mean "associate with the lowly." In other words, don't be snobby. Don't be a member of a clique. Again, look at Christ's example. Read Matthew 9:10

Verse 17 -- Don't repay evil for evil

Payback makes you a participant

" Provide things honest in the sight of all men " means to look for the good in others.

Do your part to be at peace with everyone. You can't be responsible for other's behavior, but you should be responsible for your own.

Verse 19 -- Leave the revenge to God

Evil deserves punishment

Punishment will come, sooner or later Read Deuteronomy 32:35

Justice belongs to God, not us.

It's important to note that this refers to personal matters, not civic. God requires a just civic community.

Verse 21 -- Overcome evil with good by being sensitive to your enemies' needs and meeting them.

This is tough, but it is do-able. How? Read Philippians 4:13

Find practical ways to demonstrate God's love

What are some ways you can show real kindness to an enemy?

To "heap coals of fire" on someone's head means your enemy will have guilt and shame for what he has done, and this leads to repentence Read Proverbs 25:21

There is an ancient Egyptian ritual in which someone who is sorry for something he has done would carry burning coals on his head to show his repentence.

Christ calls us all to repentence. If your love for your enemy brings him to shame and then repentence to Christ, then you have helped preserve another soul from Hell.