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Romans 12:14
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
As we work our way through Romans 12, Paul continues to show us how the deep theology of chapters 1–11 should be applied. He taught us first that, because of all God has done for us, we should give ourselves completely to fulfilling His desires for us, allowing Scripture to transform our minds so that we no longer conform to the thinking and behavior of the unbelieving world. Then, in a series of exhortations, he began to show just how a transformed believer lives—he gains a proper view of himself and comes to love other believers genuinely but with discrimination. Certainly no person can live this way apart from divine transformation. However, our adherence to Paul’s exhortations in today’s passage may demonstrate the power and extent of God’s transforming work more thoroughly than all that he has commended to this point.
Verses 14–17 are similar to verses 10–13 in that they seem to be an almost random string of exhortations. However, verse 14 indicates a change—now Paul is speaking about how we are to relate to unbelievers. Though the subsequent exhortations are not so clearly aimed at extra-body relationships, verse 17 also indicates that Paul is thinking here about relations with those outside the church. Perhaps to our surprise, Paul’s guiding principle for dealing with unbelievers is the same that governs relations with our brothers and sisters—love. Only God’s transforming power can enable us to fulfill this calling.
Paul’s first exhortation is stunning: “Bless those who persecute you.” Jesus promised His followers they would encounter persecution. It only makes sense. The Christian’s deviation from conformity to the world is something of an indictment against ungodly thinking, and unbelievers do not like it. Plus, unsaved people resent God and those who follow Him. “Since Jesus is God and since unbelievers hate God—they would murder Him if they could get their hands on Him—their hatred for God, whom they cannot reach, is vented against Christians,” Dr. James M. Boice writes. But when we encounter this hatred, we are not to yield to our natural tendency to fight back, or “to curse.” Rather, we are “to bless,” following Stephen’s example in asking God to show favor to them no matter how deeply they hurt us (Acts 7:60). Surely this is a calling for the truly transformed.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Such high callings as we find in today’s verse provide marvelous measuring sticks by which we may gauge our progress in the Christian life. Have you ever been able to return kindness to one who wished to do you harm? If so, thank God for the transforming work He is doing in you. If not, pray that He would help you be clay in His hands.
For Further Study
- Matthew 5:43–48
- John 15:18–21
- John 16:1–3