SERVICES: SATURDAY 6PM | SUNDAY 9AM & 10:45AM. 

We Livestream at www.FaithFellowshipWeb.com/livestream, through the FFC App, and YouTube.

Evidence to the Contrary

Words of Faith Final

Evidence to the Contrary
Words of Faith 11-12-2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><<><   

Romans 12
    [17] Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. [18] If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
 [19] Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. [20] 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." [21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

      The world is watching all the time for evidence against the transformed life. The world is watching to see just how transformed we really are and is quick to point out our failures, the evidence to the contrary. The truth is that it is easy to be kind to one another and show hospitality to our own, but how do we do with those who don't love Jesus? Paul shows us what the transformed life looks like to the world.
      Do not repay anyone evil for evil. It is so difficult not to "react" when evil is said or done against us. No, it is not "fair." Life is not "fair." Jesus said we are blessed when we are insulted for the sake of Christ. It is a difficult blessing to receive. We learn quickly that the transformation of our attitudes is one thing, but the transformation of our "reactions" is quite another. Words and actions are out there before we have a chance to even think. Such change is something only God can do.
     Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. We often live in the face of a standard higher even than our own and probably higher than the standard of God. We live in the face of what the world "thinks" a Christian "ought" to be. We will probably never live up to that standard, but that is no excuse.
     We must make every effort not to offend and live above reproach. We can make every effort not to rebel against these "standards" simply because we are being watched. We must remember that the only image of Christ that some people will have is the "reaction" we make in a difficult situation. The transformed life is careful.
      If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Despite our best efforts, there will be those who declare an "unjust war" against us even when trying to love people and obey God. For this reason, we cannot always be at peace, but, as far as it depends upon us, we can seek peace. We are only responsible for ourselves, and that is plenty.
      Do not take revenge. Vengeance is the Lord's to take, never ours. It is a deadly sin that stirs deep within us when we allow vengeance to dirty our hearts and hands. We may think revenge is a just response to an offense or wound, but there is no peace in it. The world will even cheer us on toward revenge, but the transformed life chooses differently. We can be sure that the world is watching. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

        Lord, transform me by the renewing of my mind. Transform my attitudes and my actions, my responses, and reactions. Show me how to avoid offense so that I may represent You well. Help me to live at peace even with those who declare war on me. Keep me from the grips of revenge that I may overcome evil with good. In Jesus' name.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SUBSCRIPTIONS - To receive the Words of Faith devotion five days a week, send an e-mail message addressed to join-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org. To stop receiving Words of Faith, send an e-mail message addressed to unsubscribe-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org. The daily devotion and archive are posted at http://www.faithfellowshipweb.com/cgi-bin/devotions/displayMonths.cgi
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -      
The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2021 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.