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Romans 13:2 – Authoritative Submission

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Romans 13:2 – Authoritative Submission

Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

Truth to Learn

We are to submit ourselves to those in authority over us, or we will find ourselves resisting what God has put in place.

Behind the Words

The first occurrence of the word “resists” is translated from antitassō, which is made up of anti, meaning “against” and tassō, which we looked at in the previous verse meaning “to place in order.” Therefore, we see that antitassō means “to put in an orderly arrangement against.” It is the word that is used of an army put in battle formation against the enemy.

“Ordinance” is from the Greek word diatagē, which is made up of dia, meaning “through,” but which also implies thoroughness, and a form of tassō, “to arrange.” Hence, this word refers to something that is “thoroughly arranged” or “ordained.’

The second occurrence of “resists” and the word “resist” are both translated from the Greek word anthestemi, which is another compound word. This one is made up of anti, meaning “against” and histemi, meaning “to stand.” Thus we see that these two words both mean “to take a stand against” or “to resist.”

“Bring” is from a form of the Greek word lambanō, meaning “to take.” It is in the active voice in this verse indicating that it is something being actively taken as opposed to something being passively received.

Meaning Explained

Before we talk about this verse, notice the heavy use of the root word tassō (to set in an orderly arrangement) in both the previous verse and this one. It is as if the Apostle Paul is making a stark contrast between what God has put in place and what mankind tries to put in place. Paul is very fond of using such a “play on words” to emphasize the point he is making. This is especially poignant given the fact that he spent the entire last chapter teaching us to be living sacrifices, not seeking our own will, but God’s.

In the previous verse he warned us to submit ourselves to the authorities that are over us, whether religious, occupational, or civil. We are not to fight against authority, and in this verse he tells us why:

Therefore whoever opposes the authority is standing against the orderly arrangement that God has set in place, and those who take such a stand will take judgment on themselves.

In other words, if we are contemplating the resisting of any authority that we are under, whether it is religious, occupational, or civil, we had better make absolutely certain that we are not resisting what God has put in place. Remember, that the only example that God gives us where we are to resist authority is when that authority is asking us to act contrary to God’s specific instructions to us, such as an authority telling us not to witness concerning salvation through Jesus Christ.

Application

We do not have to respect or even like people who are in authority over us, but we are to respect their position of authority and submit to them. Otherwise, we are resisting what God has put in place.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 13:1 – Civil Submission

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Romans 13:1 – Civil Submission

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

Truth to Learn

We Christians are to submit to those in authority over us.

Behind the Words

“Authorities” is the Greek word exousia, which refers to “one who has authority, permission, right, or power.”

The word translated “governing” is huperechō, which is made up of huper or hyper, meaning “above” or “higher,” and echō, a verb meaning “to have or hold.” So huperechō means “those who are held over, or who have prominence over, others.”

The verb translated, “be subject to” is hupotassō, which is made up of hupo or hypo, meaning “under” or “beneath” and tassō, meaning “to place in order.” Hence, this means to place under in an orderly fashion. It is a military term referring to the submission of a soldier to one who out-ranks him.

“Appointed” is from the Greek word, tassō, which we just looked at, meaning “to place in order.” It is often translated as “ordained or appointed.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense indicating a past completed action with an ongoing effect, where the emphasis is on the ongoing effect.

Meaning Explained

Paul has just taught Christians how to live in relation to others within the church. He now turns his attention to how we should live in the world. The church members in Rome to whom Paul is writing this letter were predominantly converted Jews, and the Jews had a long history of resisting the rule of any foreign king. They believed that God alone was their king, which is why the Emperor Claudius had previously banned all Jews from Rome (see Acts 18:2).

When Paul wrote this letter, Claudius had already been assassinated, and his son Nero was the Emperor. But, even though Nero had welcomed the Jews back into Rome, he had no love for them. This was particularly true for those whom many of that day considered to be a sect of Judaism, Christians.

In light of these facts, it is amazing that Paul would admonish us all to be subject to higher authorities. The authorities that Paul is talking about can be those in the workplace, where we are to submit to our bosses and upper management, or to civil government, whether local, regional, or national. Whoever they are, we are to place ourselves under the control of those in positions of authority over us. That means that they have the right to tell us what to do, and we are to obey what they tell us. Also notice that those who are in positions of authority over us, whether on the job, in a church, or in civil government, have been put there by God. The only situation in which we are not to submit to them is when that authority commands us to do something contrary to what God has specifically commanded us to do, such as preaching the Gospel. Paul also teaches us in his first letter to Timothy (1Timothy 2:1, 2), not only are we to submit ourselves to all authorities, we are to pray for them as well! And Peter tells us that this applies whether they are good and gentle or harsh (1Peter 2:18).

Application

It doesn’t matter if we don’t like those in authority over us; we are to submit to them nonetheless. In doing so, we are submitting to the will of our Father in Heaven.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 12:21 – Good Versus Evil

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Romans 12:21 – Good Versus Evil

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Truth to Learn

The proper way for a Christian to combat evil is with good.

Behind the Words

The word translated “overcome” is nikaō, a verb form of the noun nikē, which refers to “a conquest or victory.” Hence, nikaō means “to subdue, conquer, or overcome.” In both instances in this verse it is expressed in the imperative mood indicating something all Christians are to do.

“Evil” is from the Greek word kakos, which refers to that which is worthless in and of itself. Thus, it is often translated as depraved, wicked, or evil. It is expressed here with the definite article, so it literally refers to “the evil thing” or “the evil one.”

The word “good” is translated from agathos, meaning “profitable or beneficial.” It refers to general goodness whereas the Greek word kalos, which we looked at in verse seventeen, refers to something that is inherently good but not necessarily benefitting others.

Meaning Explained

Paul started off this chapter by stating:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)

Throughout the remainder of this chapter, he has been showing us what it looks like when a person is a living sacrifice, totally submitted to God; for instance, someone who has presented his or her body as a living sacrifice to God will not repay evil for evil and will not avenge himself or herself.

In the past few verses Paul has not been giving us commandments so much as he has been showing us what the evidence of our submission as a living sacrifice looks like. And so, he wraps up this chapter with a final piece of evidence of a person who is totally submitted and committed to God. This person does not allow himself to be overcome with evil; instead, he overcomes evil with good. A literal translation of this verse could be:

Do not be conquered under the evil one, but conquer the evil one with goodness.

Some would say that “the evil one” refers to Satan, for he is sometimes referred to in that manner. In this case, however, I believe Paul is referring to anyone who does evil to you. If the result of an evil act on you causes you to do evil in return, then you have succumbed to the temptation of retaliation and you have demonstrated that you are not fully submitted to God. But, if evil is done to you and there is within you the ability to plan and carry out goodness toward the one doing evil, then you are showing that you are still lying on the alter, a living sacrifice to God, and He will use you when you live that way.

Application

It’s not easy to remain on the altar because we each have a sin nature that wants us to be in control and wants to get even with those who hurt us. However, by the power of the Holy Spirit we can remain submitted to our Lord and we can respond to the evil done to us with goodness. That’s sacrificial living. It’s pleasing to God because it allows Him to receive all the glory and all the praise.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 12:20 – Mercy, Not Vengeance

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Romans 12:20 – Mercy, Not Vengeance

Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

Truth to Learn

Do not take vengeance. Instead, show mercy.

Behind the Words

“Heap” is from the Greek verb sōreuō, meaning “to pile up.”

The word “coals” is from the Greek noun anthrax, from which we get the term “anthracite,” a type of coal which glows red-hot rather than producing a noticeable flame.

Meaning Explained

This verse is one of those which is often misunderstood and misapplied. Remember what Paul has said in the previous few verses: do not retaliate with evil when evil is done to you. Do not take vengeance because that is God’s exclusive domain. God will take vengeance on those who genuinely deserve vengeance. Therefore, “If your enemy is hungry …”

Here is Paul’s point:  because God will take care of the vengeance part, we are to take care of the part that will do the most in terms of producing ultimate good. The expression, “you will heap coals of fire on his head” has been interpreted by some to mean that by doing good to those who do evil to you, you will produce pain and suffering in them. But isn’t that just the same as taking vengeance? If we do good for the purpose of giving them pain, then we are taking vengeance and we are being hypocrites, aren’t we?

This verse is quoted from the Old Testament.

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you. (Proverbs 25:21,22)

Heaping coals of fire is a method that was used in refining metals like silver and gold. The ore was ground up, placed in an ingot, and placed on the fire. Then hot coals were heaped on top. As the ore melted, it separated into the precious metal and what we now call slag. The slag would rise to the top, and if the coals on top were hot enough, the slag would burn off, thus producing a purified metal. This is the analogy that many early Rabbis provided in explaining these two verses in Proverbs.

So now let’s apply this to what Paul is teaching us. If we are not to retaliate, letting God handle the vengeance part, then what are we to do? Nothing for the time being! Just wait! It is entirely possible that the one who has done evil to you will have a need, the most basic of which are hunger and thirst. When he, or she, has that need and comes to you for help, don’t send him away with harsh words and an empty stomach; instead, provide for his needs in a humble, loving way because in so doing you are being a witness to the love that God has for us. Your deeds of kindness may produce repentance and reconciliation with God. Thus, in doing good to those who have done evil to you, you may be doing that which will purify them just like heaping coals of fire on the refining process.

Application

What Paul has described here is the act of mercy, doing something good to someone who doesn’t deserve it. Because God has shown us such great mercy, we should be constantly on the lookout for ways of showing mercy to others. Let me challenge you to show mercy to someone this week.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 12:19 – Who’s The Judge

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Romans 12:19 – Who’s The Judge

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Truth to Learn

There is only one Judge and we need to let Him do His job.

Behind the Words

The word translated “avenge” in the first part of this verse and “Vengeance” in the second part is ekdikeō. This is made up of ek, meaning “out of” or “from” and a form of dike, which means “justice,” “judgment,” or “that which is right.” Hence, ekdikeō means “to hand out your own justice.” In other words, it means to take punitive action against someone whom you have judged to be guilty of causing you harm.

“Wrath” is translated from the Greek word orgē, which refers to “excitement of the mind.” This word can be interpreted as “strong desire,” but it can also be interpreted as “violent passion” or “anger.”

Meaning Explained

Paul now caps off what he has been saying in the past two verses. Not only has he told us that we should be proactive about doing good things to others and peacefully coexisting with them, he now commands us, “do not avenge yourselves.” Why not? Because when we take matters into our own hands we sinful humans are notorious for making incorrect judgments based on our biased perception of the facts. God, on the other hand, is a perfect judge and always judges rightly based on the real truth.

A similar admonition was given to the Jews:

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18)

The second phrase in today’s verse, “but rather give place to wrath” is a literal translation, but it has been the subject of much discussion among Greek scholars as to what it really means. In the Greek text there is a definite article before “wrath” so it reads “the wrath,” which is likely a reference to God’s wrath. Based on all the evidence I would paraphrase the first part of today’s verse as, “instead of stepping in and taking on the responsibility of executing judgment for yourself, back-off and let God decide who’s guilty.” Paul follows this phrase with a quotation from Deuteronomy 32:35,

Vengeance is Mine, and retribution; their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.

God promises that He will take retribution on those who oppose Him and cause harm to His children. But He will do so in a righteous manner, pouring out His wrath on those who deserve it based on truth.

Application

Instead of executing revenge on those whom we think have wronged us, let us humble ourselves before Almighty God and trust that He understands the situation correctly and trust that as our Holy Father, He will do what is right and just.

God, grant us the ability to resist the temptation to retaliate. Give us the love of Christ that we might be forgiving even of those who truly wrong us, and give us the faith to understand that You always judge rightly.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 12:18 – Be At Peace

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Romans 12:18 – Be At Peace

If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Truth to Learn

Christians should be peace-seeking people.

Behind the Words

The word translated “it is possible” is dunaton, a word we’ve seen before. It refers to “power, authority, or ability.” Literally, what Paul is saying is, “If you have the ability” or “If it is within your power.”

“As much as depends on you” is translated from the Greek words to ex humōn. This literally translates to “the thing out of you” or “that which comes from you.” It could be interpreted as “the from you part” or “the part that you are responsible for.”

The words “live peaceably” are from the Greek verb eirēneuō, which is derived from the noun eirēnē, meaning “peace.” So, eirēneuō means “to be at peace.” It is interesting to note, however, that the root of this word is probably the verb eirō, which means “to join.” Hence, to be at peace with someone implies that you are joined together with them for your mutual benefit. It does not simply imply a passive act (that you leave each other alone) but an active one (that you join together with another person to produce good).

Meaning Explained

Following up on Paul’s previous instruction to us; not being reactive (giving evil for evil) but being proactive (preparing good things for others), he now gives us some more instruction on how the members of the body of Christ should behave.

He says, “If you have the ability, your part is to join together with others in peaceful coexistence.” Paul is not implying that some Christians have the ability to be at peace with others while other Christians don’t; rather, he is expressing the reality that not all people will allow others to live peaceably with them. We have all known people who behave out of anger toward everyone else, unwilling to let anyone be nice to them. And there are others who have an intense hatred for all Christians, refusing to be at peace with us. Thus, it is not always possible for us to be at peace with others.

Paul’s point is that we should make every effort to be at peace with all men. Our part of any relationship, the part that we are held responsible for, is to make every effort to be at peace with all people, even those who hate us, even those whose lifestyle is drastically different from our own, even those who don’t believe in God and who live in a manner that we know is not pleasing to Him, even those who intentionally make life difficult for us. We are not responsible for the actions of others, but we are responsible for our own actions. And we don’t have to compromise our own beliefs and values to do so.

Application

Once again we can look to our Lord Jesus as the example of this kind of living. Consider this: even though He got angry at the money changers in the temple and verbally condemned the Pharisees for being hypocrites, He did not make any selfish acts of hostility against anyone. We should model our behavior after His.

And – just as He does, we should hate the sin but love the sinner!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 12:17 – Reactive or Proactive?

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Romans 12:17 – Reactive or Proactive?

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

Truth to Learn

We should be benevolently proactive, not selfishly reactive.

Behind the Words

The word translated “repay” is apodidomi, which is a compound word made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from” and didōmi, meaning “to give.” Hence apodidōmi means “to give away” of “to deliver up.” In the current context it can certainly be interpreted as “repay,” although it does not imply repayment of something owed.

“Evil” is from the Greek word kakos, referring to “that which is worthless in and of itself.” It does not refer to a bad effect (that would be the word ponēros) but to an intrinsic worthlessness. Thus, kakos usually refers to an evil thing or an evil action.

The words “Have regard” are translated from pronoeō. This is made up of pro, meaning “before, in place or time” and noeō, which refers to “action of the mind (to think, perceive, or consider).” Thus, we see that pronoeō means “to consider in advance, to plan ahead, or to premeditate.”

“Good” is from kalos, which refers to “that which is good in quality or character.” It is often translated as “beautiful.”

Meaning Explained

In this verse Paul contrasts two thoughts. Do you see what they are? He says,

Don’t be reactive and respond with evil acts when evil acts are done to you. Instead, be proactive and consider ahead of time what good things you are going to do for others.

When someone does something to us that is unkind, offensive, hurtful, or just downright mean, our first reaction is to respond in kind and “get even.” I’m sure we’ve all heard the expression, “I don’t get mad – I get even.” That’s precisely what Paul is telling us not to do. Don’t allow your sin nature to control your actions. That’s the result of our “flesh” which Paul was talking about back in chapter 8 when he said:

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:5-8)

We should not behave like the unsaved do. They are slaves to their flesh and have no choice but to obey it because they are spiritually dead. But we have been set free from the bondage of our flesh and are now spiritually alive. We have a choice and that choice should always be to do good, not evil.

Application

Do you want to please God? If so, then you need to let His Spirit control your thoughts and actions, not your own flesh. Your choices are to please yourself or to please God. Which will it be?

“Ouch! That makes my own toes hurt!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 12:16 – Right-minded Thinking

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Romans 12:16 – Right-minded Thinking

Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Truth to Learn

Who we compare ourselves to affects what we think of ourselves.

Behind the Words

“Mind” is translated from the Greek word phroneō. According to Strong’s Dictionaries of Hebrew and Greek Words, his verb means “to exercise the mind, that is, entertain or have a sentiment or opinion.” We might call it “having a mindset.”

The word “associate” is from sunapagō. This word is made up of sun, meaning “together,” apo, meaning “away from,” and agō, meaning “to carry” or “to lead.” Thus, we see that this word literally means “to carry away together” or “to take off together.” In a negative sense it means “to be led astray,” but in a positive sense it means “to be personally involved.”

Meaning Explained

The message of the current verse centers on the Greek word phroneo. A literal translation of this verse might be, “minding the same thing toward one another, not minding high things, but taking off together with the lowly ones. Do not become conceited about yourselves.” As you can see, Paul is talking about how we think about ourselves and others within the body of Christ.

The crux of this verse is in the middle, “Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.” It is fascinating to observe people in the presence of a celebrity. Everyone wants to be near the celebrity and to be his or her friend. But nobody wants to be the friend of the poor homeless person. This is not how it should be within the church, according to Paul. We should have the same regard for everyone independent of their social or economic status. I think if we get to the nut of this one, we will see that these improper attitudes are based on selfishness (how others can make us feel or what can be done for us) instead of self-less-ness (what we can do for others).

Keep in mind that Paul is talking about relationships within the body of Christ. That’s why he uses such words as “one another” and “within yourselves.” His basis for these things goes back to verse 3 of this chapter:

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think right-mindedly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

He closes the current verse with a command that basically says, “Don’t get hung-up on yourselves.” Becoming self-righteous is the result of comparing ourselves to others (usually with an inflated view of ourselves) instead of comparing ourselves with Christ. If becoming like Him is our objective, then none of us will get puffed-up because the One we are comparing ourselves to is so much greater than we are.

Application

If we are submitted to our Lord and committed to becoming like Him, then we will naturally treat others with the proper attitude knowing that we, like them, are merely sinners saved by grace.

And we get none of the glory because He gets all of the glory!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 12:15 – Give and Take

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Romans 12:15 – Give and Take

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Truth to Learn

Sharing in grief means taking, but sharing in joy means giving.

Behind the Words

“Rejoice” comes from the Greek word chairo, which means “to be full of cheer, that is, calmly happy.” It was often used as a greeting or a parting salutation meaning “be well.” Today we mean essentially the same thing when we say “God bless you.”

The word translated “weep” is the Greek word klaiein, a form of klaio, which according to The Word Study Dictionary means, “To weep, wail, or lament, implying not only the shedding of tears, but also every external expression of grief.”

Meaning Explained

As Paul has been teaching us, in Christ we are all part of one body, that is, we who are Christians. All members of the human race are not children of God, as many secularists and humanists would have us believe. In fact, here’s what Christ said to Pharisees in John 8:23:

You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

And in John 8:44:

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.

Just because someone claims to be a child of God does not make them so. Only those who have submitted to the authority of Jesus as Lord and have accepted his sacrificial death on the cross as payment for their sins can truly say, “I am part of the family of God; the body of Christ!” As we have seen in this twelfth chapter of Romans, membership in the body of Christ carries with it many responsibilities, including those identified by Paul in this verse.

Let’s look at the second half of this verse first. We are to weep with those who are weeping. What Paul is telling us is not to cry whenever someone in the body cries, for there are many reasons for us to cry. But, when that crying is from grief, we are to share in the grief of the suffering one by taking on some of that grief as our own. We are told by psychologists today that one of the ways a person can get over grief is to have others share in the expression of that grief with them.

The first half of this verse is actually the more difficult thing for Christians to do. We are to rejoice with those in the body who are rejoicing. The problem is that what we say and what we do are often two different things. It is easier to mourn with those who are mourning than to be happy with those who are happy. Instead, we often feel jealousy or envy toward those who have something to rejoice about. But this, my friend, is the sin of selfishness at work.

We all need to extend our sympathies and partake in the grief of members of the body of Christ who are grieving. But we also need to learn how to be truly joyful with those in the body who are experiencing joy.

Application

When we grieve with those who grieve we take to ourselves some of their grief. However, when we rejoice with those who rejoice, we are actually giving them some of our joy. And then, we give all the glory to God, for He deserves it! Let’s put these things into practice this week!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 12:14 – Blessing, Not Cursing

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Romans 12:14 – Blessing, Not Cursing

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Truth to Learn

Being Christ-like is really, really hard – but not impossible.

Behind the Words

The word translated “bless” is eulogeō, which is a compound word made up of eu, meaning “good or well” and a form of the noun logos, meaning “a word,” or the thoughts behind the word. So Paul is telling us that we should have good thoughts and say good things about those who persecute us. One more thing about the word translated “bless” is the fact that it is expressed in the imperative mood, which means that this is a command that Paul is giving us, not simply a suggestion.

“Persecute” is translated from a form of the Greek word diōkō, which is the same root as the word in the previous verse which was translated as “given to.” There we saw that this word means “to pursue” or “to persecute.” In other words, it means to be continually going after something, whether for good or for evil.

The Greek word translated “curse” is kataraomai. This is the verb form of katara. This is made up of kata, meaning “down,” but often used as an intensifier, and ara. This word, ara, originally referred to “a prayer,” but over time it came to mean an imprecatory prayer, that is, a curse which a deity was to execute upon someone. So we see that kataraomai refers to a prayer in which we ask God to take vengeance for us.

Meaning Explained

Now Paul gets down to a really difficult aspect of how Christians should act. He says that we should bless those who persecute us. The use of the word translated “persecute” may be a bit of a play on words by the Apostle Paul. We should be constantly pursuing opportunities to be hospitable to others (verse thirteen), and we should speak well of those who constantly pursue opportunities to do evil to us (verse fourteen).

Most Christians have experienced the pain of having someone make life difficult for them. It may have been because of something we have done, or it may have been completely unjustified. In either case, our natural reaction is to speak evil of them and maybe even pray that God would punish them for what they are doing. However, Paul tells us that instead of seeking revenge through imprecatory prayers, we should speak well of the one or ones persecuting us.

Is this easy? Absolutely not! Our fallen nature wants us to get revenge on those who continually try to do evil to us, but the Holy Spirit wants us to be Christ-like. As Jesus was lying on top of the cross having nails driven into His hands so that He could be tortured in a most painful manner, He said,

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. (Luke 23:34)

If ever there was a person who would have been justified in asking God to take vengeance on those who are mistreating Him, it was Jesus. Instead of that, however, He prayed that they would be forgiven.

Application

Is there someone right now who is making your life difficult, someone who is persecuting you? If so, ask God to make this verse real to you and ask Him to empower you through the Holy Spirit to speak well of (and to) the person responsible for your pain.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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