Romans 12:17-21
New International Version (NIV)
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful
to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible,
as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not
take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is
written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[a] says the Lord. 20 On
the contrary:
“If 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.”[b]
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil
with good.
How hard is this? I have one person I hate. I mean, really hate. I won't go into why, just that this hate is longstanding. Nine years this summer, actually. If I jump outside of my own box and look at the breaking point in my relationship with him, I see that I wasn't all right. But I wasn't all wrong either. However, I am not here to defend myself. I want to let it go, but I haven't been able to. What is it that keeps us from forgiving?
Jeff Henderson says in order to forgive we have to follow and know 4 things:
1. Embrace God's forgiveness in you. He actually says we are heir's of the Most High.
2. Forgiven people forgive.
3. Let God avenge you.
4. Overcome evil with good.
If I had to sit down and analyze these, right off the bat I would say #1 is the hardest for me. I have never felt worthy. Not worthy of forgiveness, nor worthy of love. Because I know my deepest thoughts, I alone know how cruel I can be. I am an heir of God's? The only way I can accept this at all is to look at my own children and how much I love them. I would forgive them for anything. I know I would. As I am sitting her typing I am thinking of terrible things they could do- like one kill the other, and still I would love the killer. I know that is an extreme example, but my point is that I cannot find anything. I would forgive them, and continue to love them because they are my children. I suppose that is how God feels about us: they are my children.
Do you know anyone who you think models forgiveness and love? I know some people and I want to be like them. I wonder what their secret is and what they are really like with their closest family and friends. What does their inner voice say to them?
#2 is also hard because I feel like forgiving sometimes makes you look like you are admitting you were wrong and the other person was right. (Recall my words above & how I had to tell you in that that I wasn't all wrong.) Pride commeth before the fall.
Perhaps we can start backwards. Perhaps if I start with #4, then the others will follow. That is my plan. To overcome good with evil. I might not be able to start out with my hated enemy, but I can start with the guy who cuts me off in traffic. Or the cashier who doesn't speak. My plan is to pray that I can start to do more good in my everyday life--again, small things with great love--and that it leads me to forgiveness...and if I am lucky, a dissolution of pride.
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