Romans 12:20, If Thine Enemy Hunger, Feed Him

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Romans 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

William MacDonald said well, “Christianity goes beyond non-resistance to active benevolence. It does not destroy its enemies by violence but converts them by love. It feeds the enemy when he is hungry and satisfies his thirst, thus heaping live coals of fire on his head. If the live coal treatment seems cruel, it is because this idiomatic expression is not properly understood. To heap live coals on a person’s head means to make him ashamed of his hostility by surprising him with unconventional kindness”.

The heart of the redeemed is so changed that he is able to return evil with good. This is a manifestation of God’s grace in the believer’s life when we obey God’s will and see His enabling love in our lives. Are we the loser to return evil with good? Certainly not! God in heaven sees all the sufferings that take place in the lives of His people He will surely help them.

1 Corinthians 13 (Paraphrased)
If I have the language perfectly and speak like a native, and have not His love for them, I am nothing. If I have diplomas and degrees and know all the up-to-date methods, and have not His touch of understanding love, I am nothing. If I am able to argue successfully against the religions of the people and make fools of them, and have not His wooing note, I am nothing. If I have all faith and great ideals and magnificent plans, and not His love that sweats and bleeds and weeps and prays and pleads, I am nothing. If I give my clothes and money to them, and have not His love for them, I am nothing.

If I surrender all prospects, leave home and friends, make the sacrifices of a missionary career, and turn sour and selfish amid the daily annoyances and slights of a missionary life, and have not the love that yields its rights, its leisure, its pet plans, I am nothing. Virtue has ceased to go out of me. If I can heal all manner of sickness and disease, but wound hearts and hurt feelings for want of His love that is kind, I am nothing. If I can write articles or publish books that win applause but fail to transcribe the Word of the Cross into the language of His love, I am nothing. (cf: 1 Cor. 13) — South African Pioneer

May this paraphrased statements of charity provoke us to love and good works. Amen.

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