“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be arrogant, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
-Romans 12:14-18
Romans 12:14-18 challenges us to live in a way that stands apart from the world. Our natural response to mistreatment is to defend ourselves or seek revenge. Yet Paul calls believers to bless those who persecute us, rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn, and pursue peace whenever possible.
These commands are not signs of weakness but evidence of Christ’s transforming power. Jesus Himself blessed those who mocked Him, wept with the hurting, and prayed for His enemies. As His followers, we are called to reflect the same grace. This attitude has been very difficult for me as I hear what is being said about people that may not look the same as me, worship the way I do, or have the same sexuality as I do. It is so difficult to watch good people and families torn apart through our current immigration actions. It also was challenging to me as I read responses in a Facebook post about the two young Brainerd girls who took their lives because of bullying. Many of the comments dealt with blaming the teachers, the school, or the parents for allowing this to happen. At this time the parents, teachers and school needed to see compassion and love.
Today, ask yourself: Is there someone I need to bless instead of criticizing? Someone whose joy or sorrow I need to share? Someone with whom I need to pursue peace? When we respond with Christ like love instead of human instinct, we become living testimonies of the gospel. Our actions often speak louder than our words, pointing others to the One who first loved us.
Prayer: Lord, help me to reflect Your love today. Give me the grace to bless, the compassion to care, and the humility to pursue peace for Your glory. Amen
Written by Howie Bahn