In More Than Your Eyes

Romans 12:17-21 NIV – “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.

I must admit that when I read today’s scripture I was a little thrown aback. Okay. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Check. I’ve got that. As much as it is up to me, make peace with everyone and leave the idea of vengeance to God. Check. I’ve got that one too. Be helpful, kind, and considerate to my enemies. Hmmm. Okay. That one is a little rough, but I’ve got it. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Well, I’ve got Jesus, and He is good and all-powerful. He is working in and on me, So I’m good on that one too.

It’s the “be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone” statement that threw me for a loop. You see, I have spent so much of my life as a follower of Christ focusing on trying to do what was right in God’s eyes rather than do what is right in my own eyes, that I don’t think that I have ever considered doing what was right in everyone’s eyes. How do we even begin to do that?

I thought that surely this, of all questions, required a philosophical answer. You know, one of those so-deep-you-can-barely-find-your-way-back-out-of-it kind of answers. But then I sat. Quietly. And then I asked God, “So how exactly do we even begin to do that?” Because, by now I am wondering this very thing myself. And once I start wondering something I have got to know the answer.

Then, as I was sitting here, quietly typing this devotional and listening for His voice, one word came to mind – Love. You may wonder why the word “love” is capitalized here, that’s because this is my way of distinguishing between the love that is expressed through sheer human effort and power – which is good, but carries along with it so many variables because of the vessel that releases it and the power source that fuels it – and God’s love that He so lavishly pours into us, oftentimes through the wonderful people with whom we are blessed to experience this life.

It is that love, His agape love when poured into and through us that makes it possible for us to “be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.” Because, when we are focused on God and we allow His love to well up in us and overflow out into the world, we will approach everyone in love, with kindness and compassion, wrapped all up with a big bow of consideration. We will prefer others to ourselves, realizing that this life is not all about us, but, instead it is about God and His will and purpose, a large part of which includes us sharing His love with others as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission. So the next time that we decide to say, think, or do something, hopefully, we will pause and consider whether that thing that we are contemplating saying, thinking, or doing is keeping in line with doing what is right in the eyes of everyone or is it simply what would temporarily please our flesh in the moment?” Be blessed. #sanguinemango