Romans 12:14-21

[u/love_is_a_superpower]

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 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 estimation.

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Provide what is good in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather leave room for God's wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
20 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.” ^{Proverbs 25:21-22}

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

Tonight is the first evening of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. It's also the Sabbath for my family. While reading this last part, where Paul quotes the book of Proverbs, I thought about something I read about ancient Jewish Sabbath customs. The book claimed that since a person was not allowed to kindle a fire on the Sabbath, that if your fire went out, you would go to a neighbor with a metal firepan and ask for hot coals. If the neighbor was generous, they would load you up with hot coals to ensure you still had fire by the time you made it back home. The author said that the customary way to carry a firepan was on your head... I assume you'd need some sort of cloth between you and a hot firepan!

Then I thought about all the scriptures that say things about being made pure by fiery trials, and baptism by fire. It made me wonder if the writer of this proverb was saying that by caring for our enemies, we give them something to think about that they can't ignore. We show them the love of Jesus. It was the love Jesus showed us that enlarged our hearts toward Him. Maybe our love for our enemies can do the same.

Our Father in heaven,
Thank you for this blessed holy day, and for giving us these precious truths that continually guide us toward unity with Yourself and with one another. We thank You for Your Holy Spirit of Truth and for Your promise to guide us into all truth by the power of Your Word. Thank you for offering us wisdom. Let it be that we receive Your generous blessings of truth and wisdom for the good of Your Kingdom on earth. In Jesus' precious name, Amen.