Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (NIV)
How can someone really have an attitude of blessing towards the person who persecutes you? It's counter-intuitive. The only way is by changing your thoughts towards the persecution. If you really believed that persecution will make you better, stronger person then it will change your heart towards the persecutor. Do you believe in the power of persecution?
@Chil
I think I know where you're trying to go with this. But my answer must be No. This is placing the focus on the "persecution" which is not the purpose of this verse. The act is wrong and this verse does nothing to change that, nor does it give it any attribute of rightness. The focus of the blessing (our action) you are to give is for the individual who perpetrated the wrongful persecution.
For instance it is more clearly defined/separated between the act and the individual in Matthew 5:39 where it says: "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."
We do know that persecution will occur and in particular to us as believers: "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me,they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." John 15:20
The act is wrong and we should not see it in any other way. Otherwise, I'm sure you will find that there are those who will seek it! Believing that they are doing right in looking to be the recipient of it!
This however does not negate that it very well may be part of our lot as a believer in Christ Jesus and so we should know how to respond to it.
This is the power of the verse and you are correct in seeing the difficulty in applying it when you said "counter-intuitive". The worldly response is the opposite of how we as believers should respond. Whereas the world does not have assistance in order to respond other then how they do. We have a Guide that will continue to help us change spiritually and help us to respond in accordance with this verse, as part of the Word of God.
Thanks for the thought provoking words sister.
:thumbsup:
YBIC
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