Wow, this passage is a difficult one. Bless
those who persecute you. Live in harmony
with one another. Do not repay anyone
evil for evil. Live at peace with
everyone. Do not take revenge. These things are easy to read and maybe easy
to imagine putting into practice, but really hard to actually do so. We learn from a young age to fight back – to
take back that toy or push or hit right back when hurt. And really if we’re honest we don’t change
much as adults – that is, without God’s help.
When we’re mistreated, we want the world to hear it. When we’re slandered or wronged, we want to
give that hurt right back – maybe even several times worse.
But
this is not the way of Jesus. There can’t
be a stronger image of Romans 12:14-21 than the horribly bloodied, bruised and
spat upon face of Jesus saying, “Father, forgive them for they know not what
they do" (Luke 23:34). No one would have
more right to revenge than the crucified Jesus, yet He sets the example. He truly overcame evil with good and now
calls all his disciples to this difficult path as well. Personally I have a long way to go on this
one. Maybe you do, too.
Romans
12:16 calls us to “live in harmony with one another.” In music, good harmony can be difficult to
achieve but is so rewarding and remarkable.
When a band is together in pitch, in tempo, in feel, in dynamics, it
will move its audience every time. When
two or more vocals are so tightly in sync that even the slightest movement or expression is matched, every
hearer will be in awe and take note. God
wants harmony in His church and from His people. To make good harmony we have to let someone
else sing lead and adjust our own personal expression to match that
leader. The best harmonizers in life are
the most unselfish of persons – and most likely living out Romans
12:14-21. Commit yourself this day to
the forgiving way of Jesus and do all you can to make harmony with those around
you. God, let it be so.
- Jeremi, the older, shorter music guy (but described by my wife as ruggedly handsome)
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