I'll start with this question, WHO ARE THESE ENEMIES?
In this context, an enemy is one that does someone evil. God admonishes us in Romans 12:20 what to do to them.
Read Romans 12:20 (click on the verse to read it, please)
Let's see the part b of the verse,
"...for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head."
What does it mean to heap coals fire on his head?
Let's see Romans 12:17-21.
If we look at these verses closely, we'd see no point in wishing any one evil. Not even those who are evil to us! May God give us understanding.
Some of us have been seeing the coals of fire as something evil. That we should do good to them, so that something bad would happen to them.
This reveals the true state of our hearts. Our hearts wanted them to repay the evil. But because Jesus said it, we wouldn't want to act evil, even though it's still in our hearts.
Let's see Matthew 5:27-28
The action is adultery and we're told not to commit the act.
But Jesus tells us that someone can commit adultery without actually doing it simply BECAUSE IT HAPPENED IN THE THOUGHTS.
So it's still the same, whether thinking it or acting it.
Jesus didn't just come to correct our actions, He came to correct our hearts [amongst other things]. Or let me put it this way, He came to correct our actions from our hearts because everything starts with the heart (see Ezekiel 11:19-20).
The "recompense to no man evil for evil" instruction starts with the heart. It talks about the heart and disposition we should have as Christians. It talks about the kind of spirit in us.
Let us see Luke 9:54-56
In scripture above, when the disciples of Jesus saw how a village would not receive Jesus, they wished they could command fire on those people like Elijah did.
(New testament refers to Elijah as Elias).
That was their desire, that evil should happen to those people and they wanted Jesus to command the fire.
We act like James and John these days, we're waiting on God to do evil to "our enemies"
But you see our loving saviour's response, Jesus said, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."
C'mon, I love Jesus! ðŸ˜
Jesus rebuked them and made them understand who they are. YOU DON'T DESTROY MEN'S LIVES BUT TO SAVE THEM.
Let's see it this way:
Assuming God would take vengeance of the evil you have done, do you think you'd still be standing? You were God's enemy remember?
If the only vengeance He could give you despite your naughtiness is to give you Christ, you shouldn't make Him give "your enemies" otherwise.
Shine His love☺️
The best vengeance they can ever get is salvation!
The Spirit in us saves and at the same time, He obeys us. This is where we should be careful about what we wish for [in our lives and that of others]. Read that again. He obeys us.
Assuming Jesus allowed the disciples to call down fire, fire would obey because THE SPIRIT WOULD SAY "YES" TO IT.
But what would Jesus gain? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Why? They'd die and go to hell [because they rejected Jesus].
That's not the best. The purpose of Jesus' coming won't be evident in their lives. That shouldn't be!
As Christians, WE SHOULD FOLLOW WHAT IS BEST, please.
Elijah was God's prophet. He wouldn't command anything and it won't come to pass. It's a seal of his office to say something and it happens.
It's a seal of redemption for you to say something and it happens. It's also a seal for you to think something, and it starts happening.
Know the kind of spirit within you.
God doesn't plan evil for any man originally, He planned it for devil and the fallen angels. Don't use your wish to make God do evil to man. Neither should you use your negligence of not winning souls to send men to hell.
Preach Jesus to every man!
Our thoughts are powerful. This is why our minds must be renewed always to what God really wants by the Spirit, else we would be conformed to the world's way of doing things – unforgiveness, revenge, etc
See Romans 12:2, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Let's be after enforcing the will of God on Earth. The only thing we're permitted to think of is this because it is perfect.
See Philippians 4:8.
In our Bible Text, Romans 12:17-21, The coals of fire is the Holy Spirit, making men to be alive unto righteousness.
We have stories of Christians who through their lifestyle of unconditional love got people saved and made them to be serious with God. Let your persistent act of love reconcile people back to God.
In conclusion, see Matthew 6:33.
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
One of those things that would be added is PEACE. Your enemies would be at peace with you!
Proverbs 16:7, "When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him."
A discussion on 14th January, 2021.
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