“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17-20
Revenge! Have you ever been wronged by anyone recently or have you been on the other end of a bad situation where you are tempted to enact revenge? Our Savior instructs us to just suck it up and realize that it is satan causing the problems. Don’t seek revenge, be nice to them. It was our Savior who turned the other cheek. While reading this scripture from Romans 12 the song “love lifted me” came on the computer radio and if you didn’t know by now, I am a Southern Gospel junkie; when you get to Heaven and can’t find me, head over to the Southern Gospel tent and I will either be singing or sitting and tapping my toe. The words from this song give a nice response to the Apostle Paul’s words.
“I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more, but the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry, from the waters lifted me, now safe am I. Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help love lifted me! All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I'll cling in His blessed presence live, ever His praises sing, love so mighty and so true, merits my soul's best songs, faithful, loving service too, to Him belongs. Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help love lifted me! Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves, He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves. He's the Master of the sea, billows His will obey, He your Savior wants to be, be saved today. Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help love lifted me!”
Sometimes it is hard to think about being lifted by love, His love, but it happens every single day throughout our lives. It is happening now in the life of the child who attends the Mammou Lutheran School in Port-au-Prince in the attached photo. Consider the last verse that Paul wrote above ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’ and know that while she is a sinner, she is not evil. Satan and the vodou priest don’t want her in this school and don’t want you to even consider helping to educate or feed this one small child; that is evil and this world has plenty of that kind of thinking to go around.
Thank you for resisting satan and this world’s directions. Thank for you supporting this child, this school and the other 24,000 children attending Schools in Haiti with a Trinity/HOPE feeding program.
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay