Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 25:21-24
Prov 25:21-24
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, 22 for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. 23 The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. 24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
Luke 6:32-33, 36
If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
My dad told me a story of a time that he was talking with a married couple who were having problems getting along with each other. The lady was telling dad all the bad things that her husband had done and how she had retaliated in kind. Dad asked her if she had ever tried heaping burning coals on his head, to which she replied: “no, but I have hit him in the head with a frying pan.”
Somehow, I think she missed the point! But then, do we not all miss the point of overcoming evil with good. The worse we are treated, the nicer we are to be. The more we are maligned, the more we are to respond in kindness. Jesus was falsely arrested and accused. He was slapped in the face, spit on, and mocked. They then beat him unmercifully before they nailed him to the cross. His reply was exactly what he had been teaching; “Father, forgive them because they don’t understand what they are doing.” We are to be merciful as our Father is merciful to us.
On another occasion, I was eating in a restaurant that my dad frequently had lunch. The waitress was new, and she had given us very poor service. Dad was leaving her an unusually good tip. I asked why such a good tip for such bad service? He said by doing this it would encourage her to give better service in the future, both to him and to others. Whether we agree with his logic or not, the principle is to return good for evil. Never seek our own revenge but let God be the one to even the score. We are to just practice love, kindness, and mercy.
O Lord God, give me a heart of love like Jesus. Fill me with your Spirit so his fruit will flourish in my heart and in my life. Help me think on things that are good, right, and wholesome, so my attitude will be positive toward others and toward life in general. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for being merciful to me. Be with your people in this country as we approach the elections and help each of us to show your love in all we do and all we say, especially toward those with whom we disagree. Help me keep my eyes on Jesus and heaven. In his name.
Robert
