BELIEVER’S BEHAVIOR By: Rev. James Sy July 21, 2013 Romans 12:14-21 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 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,” 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.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 1. Bless those who persecute you Bless “eulogeo” means to speak well of. Believers are charged to speak well of those who persecute him. We do not react against them by cursing, speaking harshly or striking back at them. We do not retaliate either verbally or physically. We seek to find something to made peace with them. Luke 6:27b-28 - Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 2. Show genuine interest in the experiences of men We are to rejoice when something good happens and to weep when there is some moments of sufferings. Galatians 6:2 - 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3. Seek harmony and associate with the lowly We are to understand their lives, about their conditions in life, their status and their needs. We are not to think highly of ourselves and become conceited as though above and better than the lowly. James 2:1-4 - My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 4. Live above reproach We are to demonstrate good behavior by not repaying evil with evil but with goodness. We are to think before reacting and respond in the right and proper way. Proverbs 3:3-4 - 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5. Live at peace with all If it is possible, believers are to live at peace with all men. However, some men are troublemakers, complainers, self-centered, and some have no interest in living at peace with believers. The cause of conflict must not arise from a believer. There are times when a believer must stand on truth more than peace. Romans 12:21 - 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 6. Give no place to revenge Vengeance belongs to God. Kindness will shame and cause anguish for an enemy and cause him to think and wonder about God. Matthew 5:44 - 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
Posted on: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 08:16:59 +0000
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