DCLM Sincere Milk 20 NOVEMBER 2021 — No Retaliation
DCLM Sincere Milk 20 NOVEMBER 2021 — No Retaliation
TOPIC: NO RETALIATION
TEXT: ROMANS 12:17-21
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Key Verse: “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men” (Romans 12:17).
MESSAGE:
Tony heard the preaching of the gospel in a church as an invitee, and immediately surrendered his life to Christ. When his elder sister heard about it, she was very bitter. She wrote a very bad letter to him and wondered why he became born again, thereby turning his back on their family religion, but Tony did not bother; rather, he continued serving the Lord and making progress in his education.
After he finished school, he got a job and settled down. Later, his elder sister had a serious problem with her family, and she was driven out of her husband’s house! When Tony heard about it, he brought her to his house and took care of her. His sister was surprised that her brother could still be good to her despite the bad things she had done to him. Eventually, his sister also gave her life to Christ and became born again.
As friends of Jesus, other children will surely offend you. Some offences may be deliberate while some may not be deliberate. The command from Christ to you is that you should never retaliate but rather forgive. Never repay evil for evil. Our text says, “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink” (Romans 12:20a).
True friends of Jesus are known by their demonstration of love. Love does not revenge or retaliate. Love forgives. Do you forgive your brothers and sisters at home and in the church? Learn to willingly forgive others.
Prayer: Lord, give me a forgiving spirit and help me never to retaliate.
Further Reading: 1 Peter 3:8-10
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
