Romans 12:14
Scripture: Romans 12:14 (ESV)
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”
Devotion:
It seems like such a simple command: bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Yet, beneath these few words from Paul in Romans lies a challenging call to live like Jesus did. A call that requires us to die to our own nature.
You see, our natural instant is to react to hurt with hurt. To meet anger with anger, and to repay unkindness with unkindness. That’s the default position of our sin corrupted hearts. This is a problem we all face.
But here, in Romans 12, Paul points us to a different response. A response that demonstrates our allegiance to Jesus. He is the one who through being persecuted blessed his persecutors, who through being cursed, won eternal blessing for all who would believe in him. Jesus embodied what Paul calls us to here.
So how do we do it? How do we follow in Jesus’ footsteps? How do we bless those who persecute us? 1 Peter 2:23 gives us the answer:
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
When we are called to bless our persecutors, we are simply being called to follow Jesus. It is something that only a Christian can truly do. It requires us to look beyond our hurt, to see the image of God in every person, and to respond not out of our woundedness but out of the wholeness that Christ gives us.
When we follow Jesus this way, we open the door to redemption. It is the love Christians have for their persecutors that make the most compelling arguments for the reality of Jesus.
If you want your enemies to follow Jesus, then bless them when they hurt you.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, it’s hard to turn the other cheek, to offer a blessing when a curse seems so much easier and immediately satisfying. Help me to remember Jesus, who blessed even those who nailed Him to the cross. Teach me to respond not from my pain but from the healing You provide. Let Your Spirit empower me to be an agent of grace in a world that champions retribution. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Spiritual Challenge:
Today, make it a point to respond with a kind word or action to someone who irritates or hurts you. It could be as simple as offering a smile, saying a kind word, or even just holding back a sharp response. Notice how it changes the dynamics of the interaction and reflect on how it makes you feel afterward.