Bible Reading Rom 12:9-21
š Daily Bible Study Using S.O.A.P. Method
š¬ Scripture
Write the actual verse or passage of scripture. What words, phrases or other parts of the passage stood out to you?
Rom 12:9-21
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lordās people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
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 Godās wrath, for it is written: āIt is mine to avenge; I will repay,ā says the Lord. On the contrary:
āIf 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.ā
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
š Observation
How do you interpret what God is saying in the scripture?
The bible does not just tell us to love everybody, love love love be nice nice nice. Happy Birthday without meaning it or knowing who you are really greeting?? In fact, it says ālove must be sincereā ā it calls for authenticity and not some superficial niceness, yet it acknowledges the difficulties as well of loving difficult people : people who persecute you and are evil towards you. It seems a given that we would have enemies and we are told exactly how to treat them. It acknowledges our feelings of wanting to ārepay evil for evilā, to ātake revengeā on the injustices we suffer at their hands.. it assures us too, that God cares and he will avenge us. He feels wrath towards them and will repay. We need to continue to do good and trust God. There also seems to be some form of allowance that it might not always be possible to live at peace with everyone, but we need to try our best.
šŖš» Application
In what ways can you apply this scripture into your life?
I find the challenge though: how to āhate what is evilā but yet do good to your enemy when they have needs. It doesnāt say you have to like them.. it acknowledges that we will have enemies. What I can think of are people who not just try to harm me but my loved ones, especially my children and those who donāt wish us well as a family unit. Some people for evil reasons delight in seeing our family unit disunited or broken. That is evil and I have every right hate that, yet I must separate the action from the person and that is very tough. How can I still be kind to people who harbor malice? It is only natural to want to teach them a lesson so they wonāt harm others! What about the murderers and terrorists, criminals around us? These are the instances where I believe it is understandable if we cannot ālive at peace with themā because they are bent on destroying peace to begin with!
I need to apply ālove does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truthā. Others can be evil but I will remain upright and love sincerely.
šš» Prayer
Write a prayer asking God to help you apply the scripture in your life.
Dear God, teach me how to be sincere in love. To not repay evil for evil but to do good, loving even my enemies and trusting that you will repay and avenge me. I need to only trust You and continue to do good the best I know how. Fill me with your love and strength to do that, keep me secure in Your love and fully satisfied so that I need not look to humans for such reassurances. Thank you, in Jesus name. Amen.
