Learning To Love Everyone

 

That looks a bit brighter in my hand - it's the book we are studying in our Sunday School. We were on lesson 20 last week, "Learning To Love Everyone (Roman 12:9-21). I won't cover the full four pages of reading and reference checking, but will try to get across the second two pages.

First two pages are pretty easy, verses 9-13. Those cover how to get along with other Christians. That's not too difficult because we're working toward the same goals. We want other people to know just how different the Christian life is. We want to share what we are looking forward to as well as what God has done to our lives and the lives of Christians we've known and look forward to seeing again.

But the second two pages are very important to those who may not have experienced God's love as expressed in John 3:16. Some people are vocally anti-Christian, others simply do not wish to discuss beliefs. There are scriptures that help us reach out with our own love to share His, and our desire to open discussions. Paul was descriptive in verses 14-21.

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:13-21 KJV)

It is up to us to be hospitable, which can be difficult for an introvert. I hope you will believe that description fits me - I'm not one for party throwing, and am much more comfortable with couples or small groups. Sadly, since retirement that does not give me much opportunity to sit and talk with strangers. Happily, when I do and mention church activities, almost everyone responds kindly. I've been blessed by having only a couple of people I need to "bless and curse not," and I find it fulfilling to pray for them.

It is also easy to "rejoice with them that do rejoice"! Oh, there are happy days!! Yet sorrow comes and we "weep with them that weep." Our community wept, and helped, during the loss of Athena Strand, a beautiful seven-year-old. Oh, yes, we wept. And, we prayed. As a church and a community we experienced "the same mind one toward another." Yes - we prayed that the man arrested will understand the crime will affect him, too.

Which brings up forgiving - under the most unforgivably painful circumstances. It would do harm to us to "recompense ... evil for evil." We are commanded: Abstain from all appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV) while at the same time "live peaceably with all men."

Revenge is destructive to peace, thus knowing God said: "Vengeance is mine: I will repay." The opposite for us is to respond with the love that God shows us in our own sinfulness. What we are to do comes from Proverbs 20:22b: "wait on the Lord and He will save thee."

The one thing we can do that might convict a person of their own guilt works better than it sounds:

Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. (Romans 12:20 KJV)

Not real coals - ever!! But maybe a twinge of understanding that guilt can bring feelings of shame for words or actions. Shame can bring conviction, which can bring contrition, which can bring the faith needed to accept Jesus, along with the love and eternal life offered.

That lesson closes with the promise we can love the difficult and the totally unlovable because God provides the means and strength to obey:

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:16-21 KJV)

This Sunday we begin Lesson 21, Roman 13:1-7, "where God reveals what our attitude toward government should be." A clue comes from Jesus' own words:

Matthew 22:21  They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

Mark 12:17  And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

Luke 20:25  And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.