Children and young people are often told while growing up to watch their behavior, especially while out in public. Exhibiting misbehavior would reflect poorly on the family, especially if the family had any degree of prominence. How we act gives a good name or a poor one to the family. As Christians, we are part of God’s family, and we carry His Name wherever we go. In our Scripture passage today the Apostle Paul gives us some instructions on how a Christian should behave, a list of traits that characterize the Spirit-filled life.
Not surprisingly, the first characteristic Paul mentions is the Christian virtue of love (vs. 9). If we have real love for others, we will focus on the needs and welfare of the one loved, and will do what we can to meet those needs, without self-centeredness or guile. Godly love will put others' needs above our own, and does not seek personal gain (vs. 10). Paul mentions another virtue, that of hope, in verse 12. Christian hope is not a vague wish. Christian hope is a sure confidence that we will receive what God has promised us. Because God keeps His promises, we can live with joyful hope. We can have a hope that perseveres through even the darkest times because of God’s promises, especially the promise of His return.
As Paul continues, he moves on to more difficult conduct, that of blessing those who mistreat us. When someone does something mean or hurtful to us, our first reaction is to retaliate in some way, trying to hurt them back. Paul instructs us, though, that this is not the way a Christian should act (vs. 14, 17-21). Here he echoes the words of Jesus to love and bless our enemies, and do good to them (Matthew 5:44).
We might have the right to be angry with someone, but we don’t always have to exercise that right. Justice might allow us to be angry, and it is selfishness that requires it. Selflessness, though, will allow us to be at peace, even when others get what they don’t deserve or have a right to. When unproductive thoughts of bitterness overtake us, we need to pray for our offender, and maybe, if possible, bless them in some tangible way.
God sometimes calls us to do things that are very difficult, such as blessing those who persecute us, and not repaying them with evil. He calls us beyond ourselves and our own strength, to actions that require His strength. He, alone, can give us the strength to overcome evil with good (vs. 21).
When we’ve been hurt, we sometimes do not want to give forgiveness. We may think that down-plays the severity of what they have done. However, forgiveness also does not negate the wrong done to us. Forgiveness is letting go of both the offense and our right to demand payment. The foundation of our forgiveness of others is God’s forgiveness of us. Unforgiveness will bring us torment. Vengeance is God’s responsibility, not ours (vs. 19). Difficult as it may be, let go of the right to get even.
When a relationship breaks down, God’s Word urges us to do what we can to restore it, to do everything possible to be at peace with others. However, sometimes the other person doesn’t wish to be peaceful or to reconcile (vs. 18). We can only do so much when people aren’t receptive. We can, though, keep bitterness from attaching itself to us. We can keep evil, injustice, and mistreatment from making us bitter by responding with goodness. When believers lovingly help their enemies, it should bring those enemies shame for their hate and animosity (vs. 20). Retaliation only brings us down to their evil level. Christians should set the example.
In closing, we may feel that this is hard, maybe even too hard to do. We may feel that we just can’t do that on our own. That is right. We can’t do it on our own. However, we can do it through the Holy Spirit, by depending on His strength and ability. As Paul tells us in another of his Epistles, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).
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