A believer’s response to evil done to them.

Romans 12:17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. Paul continued giving them advice as to what pleases the Lord with regard to relating to those who persecute them or do them harm. The natural reaction to those who hurt us is to treat them as they treat us. However, living to love with Jesus is responding to evil as He did, or I should say, does. Believers are not to give back (which is the word used), or pay back in return, the evil they receive from anyone. Instead, we are to show respect for what is generally considered the right thing to do in any given situation. We should think, (by the way, the word respect has a form of the Greek word think in it), we should think about what others think is the right thing to do as we consider how we are to respond to those who do evil toward us. In the following verses, Paul continued unpacking a believer’s response to those who do us wrong, but for today, let’s be encouraged by what the Holy Spirit gives us in this verse. It may be, if God so wills, that we may be mistreated or receive evil from someone. We can know with confidence that Jesus would not pay them back with evil. If we are going to love them with Him, we know He will show them respect and do what is for their highest good, no matter what the cost. We can do this in the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God because according to His great mercy, He lives in us. This makes our offering a living sacrifice acceptable to God. Father of mercies, God of all comfort, fill us with Your Spirit today, so we might do what is right in Your sight and in the sight of all men should you choose for us to glorify You in suffering evil today. By Your mercies, we offer ourselves to You as sacrifices of worship for Your glory. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com