2025-07-18
Good morning, Dear Ones,
With all the lessons for us in just RO 12, one can imagine how many there are in this entire book. The Holy Spirit has commanded me to complete the exegesis of this chapter of Romans and to go on with the many ways we can worship our loving Creator. RO 12: 17-18, “Do not pay 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 in peace with everyone.” This leaves us with a problem that needs to be revealed.
When there is disagreement about what is right and what is wrong, the playing field is no longer even. For example, if one side is fighting a so-called holy war, that side feels it is doing right. As believers in Jesus Christ, we believe that what is Biblical truth and in line with the Lord’s teaching, is right. He makes it clear in the Scriptures. However, the other side feels their holy book, which is different than the Bible is right. An example is the teaching of Islamic Jihad in the Koran. This is why anti-Semitism against Israel and other actions taken against people who don’t want to practice Islam is a reality. As this author sees it, there is no way to settle such a conflict before God’s “ultimate solution” at the end of time (as described in the book of Revelation. There are people who don’t revere preserving life, and they work to end it. Wars are a reality of human history that never bring lasting peace. Only God can do that, and He will do so in His perfect time. Read JAS 4: 1-3 to see God’s understanding of the Most common causes of human wars.
We are given some important commands concerning peacemaking. MT 5: 9, 43-44, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God…You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” That last directive is hard to obey but necessary. That is true if you want to remain as children of God. Exterminating people because they have been brought up not to preserve human life or don’t think it matters are evil. The Lord isn’t telling us to love the evil others do, but to love the people as God loves all His creations. Divisions within families are common, and they bring people considerable pain and loss. MT 10: 34-36 gives us a view of Christ’s own perspective on this matter. Our faith is tested, and it is necessary for us to recognize our need to make right choices in our priorities.
RO 12: 19-21, “Do not take revenge, My dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written, ‘Its is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” Because of the passage of so much time between the writing of DT 32: 35 (from 1406 BC to Romans in 45 AD), people must remember what was said then. God speaking, “It is Mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip, their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.” God’s teaching doesn’t change; the Bible (OT and NT) is entirely consistent; unlike any other book ever written. We must learn to trust in the Lord when He tells us something, especially when it is repeated. My own experience has shown me this is true. PR 3: 5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Once again, we encounter a repeated concept in verses 20-21 of RO 12. PR 25: 21-22, “If your enemy is hungry give him food to eat; if he is thirsty give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” We see this same concept expressed by the Lord Jesus in MT 25: 40, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of theses brothers and sister of Mine, you did for me.”
PRAYER: O Lord, what we learn in RO 12 dovetails with the list of ways we can worship our Lord, showing our attitude of putting Him first. Choosing not to do evil to others and behaving with an understanding of each different part of the body of Christ at work for the whole obeys God’s will for us. We must do that in the small things while at the same time having a view God’s plan of salvation and the importance of having our part in what DN 9: 24 describes. “Seventy sevens,’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.” You make Your will for us clear, and we offer You praise and thanksgiving for creating us to be able to obey it. In the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: The Holy Spirit urges me to write about encouraging, mercy, being patient in affliction, and if time permits healing. In each of these practices, we are offering God reverence for His sentient creations. We acknowledge God’s unique ability to make something out of nothing. No other Being can do this. GN 1: 27, “So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. A sentient being is capable of feeling, conscious of seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, or smelling. Of course, mankind is not the only sentient being God created, but we have the most complex brain. Next week, we will look at just how this prepares us to consider how our sentient selves can find other ways to worship our Creator. Praise and thanksgiving be to Him!
Grace be with You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2025. All Rights Reserved.
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