One minute read.
Daily Reading: Jeremiah 31:27-32:44, 1 Timothy 3:1-16, Psalm 88:1-18, Proverbs 25:20-22
Daily Verse: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” Prov. 25:21-22
Heaping coals.
Smothering your enemies with kindness will turn the tides of the relationship. God blesses your efforts, and your foes will feel remorse for their actions. Burning coals represent guilt, pangs of consciousness for whatever your adversaries’ offensive actions.
“Gone with the Wind,” the highest-grossing movie of all time, has one of the best examples of this proverb. Having thrown herself at Ashley Wilkes, Scarlett must face his wife in front of the entire town. Her husband, Rhett, makes Scarlett wear a tawdry red dress to humiliate her further.
But Melanie, Ashley’s wife, heaped burning coals on Scarlett’s head. When the adulteress woman entered her home, Melanie treated Scarlett with kindness, embracing her in a warm and heartfelt hug and then complimenting her adversary’s dress. Grace personified as guilt poured from Scarlett’s facial expression.
Hurting people hurt others. Remembering the simple adage will help you show kindness to your enemies. God will handle the rest.
Lord, forgive us when we miss opportunities to show kindness to our enemies. Please help us have soft hearts towards those that hurt us. Let us respond with love when someone slaps our cheek. Help us become more like Jesus every day. IJNIP. Amen
