The Daily Transforming Power of Genuine Love
Daily Scripture
Romans 12:9-21
9 Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good. 10 Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other. 11 Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic—be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord! 12 Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of God’s people, and welcome strangers into your home. 14 Bless people who harass you—bless and don’t curse them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and cry with those who are crying. 16 Consider everyone as equal, and don’t think that you’re better than anyone else. Instead, associate with people who have no status. Don’t think that you’re so smart. 17 Don’t pay back anyone for their evil actions with evil actions, but show respect for what everyone else believes is good.
18 If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people. 19 Don’t try to get revenge for yourselves, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. It is written, Revenge belongs to me; I will pay it back, says the Lord [Deuteronomy 32:35]. 20 Instead, If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. By doing this, you will pile burning coals of fire upon his head [Proverbs 25:21-22]. 21 Don’t be defeated by evil, but defeat evil with good.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Despicable Me 4 may, on the surface, feel like little more than a lighthearted piece of entertainment, good for some animated laughs in an over-serious world. But, even as the movie invites us to laugh at the characters’ antics, it draws on a range of themes that subtly echo the apostle Paul’s sweeping picture of how to build better relationships and a better world. Family bonds and loyalty, good versus evil, and redemption and positive change all play a crucial role in the film’s comical plot.
- “Read through these verses again and again and feel the simple, practical energy they evoke. They offer a no-nonsense vision of Christian living…. we should note the remarkable command in verse 9: hate what is evil, stick fast to what is good. You can’t get simpler, or clearer, than that.” * Gru began the Despicable Me series as a villain. Love drew him into the Anti-Villain League, and in the latest film, he struggles to “stick to what is good.” What most tugs you away from what is good?
- Gentile and Hebrew Christians in Rome clearly found themselves polarized at times, frustrated by or angry at each other. What would it have taken for them to be able to regularly “be happy with those who are happy, and cry with those who are crying”? Could we really do that in our highly polarized times? In what ways did that specific counsel reflect the serious spiritual reality behind “love should be shown without pretending” (verse 9)?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, guide me to always pursue the good for others and for your kingdom. Teach me how to avoid the enticing evils that draw me away from what is good. Amen.
GPS Insights
Katy Nall
Katy Nall, who serves as the Program Director of Missions for Resurrection West, wrote today's Insights. She is a mom of two and loves to be outside in the sunshine, especially if it involves mountains or ocean. She loves hiking, reading, learning, and connecting.
The other day my 10 year old daughter asked me my favorite part of being a Christian, and without a doubt, it is exactly what this verse describes.
It’s probably a little hypocritical of me, then, to also looooove when I can slam my “enemies” with one of these verses. So many of these verses I want to shove in a few people’s faces and say “See?! You aren’t doing it right!!” This verse says to live at peace with all people. ALL people, really? Does he really mean all people? Has he seen what is going on out there?! Paul says that revenge is for God, not for us to carry out. Instead, we are called to love our enemies, feed them, give them clothes and give them something to drink. This is the radical life changing plan of God, to show love in the face of evil and hate, and I know deep down that this is right and true. I have seen firsthand the power of showing mercy and kindness to the people that have wronged me or have made huge mistakes in their lives. I have seen God’s redemptive power at work over and over, but still, even after all that I have seen, and all the mercy I have been personally shown, I still want to just stick it to people sometimes. There are some people out there who DESERVE some vengeance, let me tell you! At least Paul added the bit about the burning coals–that is nice. It helps the lack of personal retribution go down a little easier.
I think this may be one of the reasons we love stories with the revenge plot so much. Movies like John Wick, Gladiator, Despicable Me, and many others are so satisfying to watch! It is nice to see the bad guys really get what we think should be coming to them in the end! I recently watched The Karate Kid, and when that bully for Cobra Kai gets his teeth kicked at the end, people cheered. The longing for justice is strong in my heart, and I will admit–it is hard to let go when I can see so much injustice and evil in the world. There are days I am ready to go full John Wick on some people, but I fight that urge, because you know who else loves justice? God. God is just, and he calls us to fight for justice in the world. He calls me, Katy, to fight for justice and to love. her. enemies. The passage is a good reminder that revenge is not the same as justice. Evil brings its own punishment, and even when it seems like the villains of the world are winning, it is our God of justice and mercy who has the final say. Evil can not defeat love and good. Living for God and loving in the face of darkness stops the cycle of destruction and helps to create a more just and hopeful world for everyone!
© 2025 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Wright, N. T., Paul for Everyone: Romans, Part Two: Chapters 9-16 (The New Testament for Everyone) (p. 76). Westminster John Knox Press. Kindle Edition.
