Cling To What Is Good

Romans 12:9-21 (HCSB)
9 Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.
10 Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor.
11 Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.
12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.
13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
16 Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.
18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.
19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord.
20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.
21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

We recognize that we are all human; we make mistakes, we fail. Life is often painful, even for God’s children. Sometimes because of God’s children, imperfect till Heaven.
When someone has hurt us, we focus on the pain, and our human nature may incite us to be hurtful back,
Which is how wars begin and families can end.
In these verses Paul is giving a ‘prescription’ for how to heal a hurting Christian and a hurting church:
Love must be without hypocrisy. We are called always to be honest and true in our dealings with God and each other. An honest, “I can’t even look at you right now.” is better than hugging someone you would rather punch.
Detest evil. We KNOW that we are supposed to forgive each other; we know that it is evil to hold on to a grievance, carry a grudge. It may be the hardest thing in the world for us to do, but with God’s help and in His Spirit…we can forgive and mean it.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.
If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. This becomes easier with practice.
If you look at your offending brother as someone in need of prayer, help and forgiveness rather than as someone hateful, know that you are looking at him as God does.
Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. Just as Christ did, setting an example for us all.
Satan is happiest when Christians are at odds and hating one another.
“They will know we are Christians by our love.”