Repay No One With Evil

By Tosin Lawal

Devotional Reading: “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (HCSB)

God’s Word is our guiding principle for living a life that pleases God. As believers and children of God, it instructs us on how to live and conduct ourselves towards our fellow human beings, whether they are believers or unbelievers.

While it’s true that people can hurt us, and we may be tempted to seek revenge or react by repaying evil for evil, God’s Word tells us not to. Instead, we are to seek what is good for everyone.

Although this can be challenging, we can draw strength from God’s Word and the knowledge that He will never ask us to do something that He has not empowered us for. As Christians, we have the responsibility to control our own conduct and reactions towards others, even when it’s difficult.

It’s important to remember that we are love beings. God imparted His love to us at birth, and it’s a part of our spirit. Romans 5:5 reminds us that “hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (HCSB) We can trust the authority of God’s Word and believe that if it implies something is possible, we can learn to walk in the experiential knowledge of it.

Child of God, endeavour to make a conscious effort to align your actions and reactions with God’s Word. As we do, we will begin to see the goodness that lies within us manifest in our daily lives, and we will become better representatives of God’s love to those around us.

Prayer and Confession
I am a love being. God’s love is resident in me. Even though I may not be able to control other’s action towards me in all circumstances, I can control my actions and reactions to others. I choose to walk in love. I will never repay anyone evil for evil.

Further Readings: Romans 12:9-21