There’s a way to hurt someone you really don’t like. Love them. Of course if you love them, you can’t not like them anymore, nor can you wish hurt upon them. But it does solve the problem, doesn’t it? It’s a lot simpler and a lot more effective. Just love. You’ll always be right if you love.
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 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. 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.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-21)
However, this passage in Romans does seem to indicate that by being kind to someone you have reason to hate, you might cause them at least some annoyance. Heaping burning coals on someone’s head can’t be very pleasant. It can’t mean that you are intentionally causing them harm. It just means that by returning good for evil, you are upsetting expectations. Somebody does bad to you, they expect you will retaliate and they are waiting and eager to get back at you, because that’s the way it goes with human nature. So when you respond with kindness, that messes everything up. You’re not playing by the rules. You’ve stopped the process; they can’t retaliate. They had something real nasty planned for you and now they can’t use it. Maybe those burning coals on their head was their next move against you with nowhere to go.
There is so much animosity everywhere today. It’s almost as if Satan has unleashed a contentious spirit on the world. Kindness is in short supply. We need to apply gratitude and kindness wherever and whenever we can. Especially to those who are our enemies or are not kind to us. Followers of Jesus are cut from a different cloth. Let’s show it by our actions.
John Fischer The Catch 
Isaiah 6:7-8 tells us that the Angel purified Isaiah by touching his lips with a burning coal. Perhaps if we pray blessings on our enemy, even heaping burning coals on them they will be purified of their hatred and enmity. Rather than a painful act of vengeance, like God has just said we shouldn’t choose or pursue, we are asking for the ultimate reward for them from God.
Jesus loves all of us no matter what evil, good, and all. He has more courage, kindness, and strength than any of us can ever imagine. Well, maybe if we all think and act upon that when folks do any of us a bad turn well, it will help put each of us on the right path following Jesus. Take care, God Bless, and have a blessed Thursday.
In times past, I often killed people with kindness to where they often became remorseful for their offenses
Great Catch today Pastor John! I can still easily remember the very first sermon I head about this passage out of the Book of Romans…
“Maybe those burning coals on their head was their next move against you with nowhere to go.” Brilliant!
I love this so much. I feel like actually talking to someone when I was reading this and I know how many people does but it feels like it’s for me personally. I just want to thank you for this message very much and I know thanking is not enough since everyone has to eat and pay bills so if there’s a donation link I don’t know about please reply to this message and I will donate as much as I can but not more than I can and when I can. ❤
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