Morning Devotion

Thursday 27 January 2022

Softly & Tenderly
Opening Prayer
Romans 12 : 12-21

12 :12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in

prayer.
12 :13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.
12 :14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not
curse.
12 :15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those
who mourn.
12 :16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud,
but be willing to associate with people of low
position. Do not be conceited.
12 :17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do
what is right in the eyes of everyone
Romans 12 : 12-21

12 :18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at

peace with everyone.
12 :19 Do not take revenge,my dear friends, but leave
room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to
avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
12 :20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
12 :21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil
with good.
Leviticus 19:18

Do not seek revenge or bear a

grudge against anyone among
your people, but love your
neighbor as yourself.
I am the Lord.
 Not Holding Grudges
During a promotional event in 2011, two seventy-three-year-old
former Canadian Football League players got into a fistfight on stage.
They had a “beef” (a grudge or feud) dating back to a controversial
championship football game in 1963. After one man knocked the other
off the stage, the crowd called out to him to “let it go!” They were telling
him to “squash the beef.”

The Bible contains many examples of people “beefing.” Cain held a

grudge against his brother Abel because God accepted Abel’s offering
over his (Genesis 4:4–5). This grudge was so severe that it eventually led
to murder as “Cain attacked his brother . . . and killed him” (v. 8). “Esau
held a grudge against Jacob” because Jacob stole the birthright that was
rightfully his (27:41). This grudge was so intense that it caused Jacob to
run for his life in fear.
 Not only does the Bible give us several examples of people who held
grudges, but it also instructs us on how to “squash the beef”—how to seek
forgiveness and reconciliation. God calls us to love others (Leviticus 19:18),
pray for and forgive those who insult and injure us (Matthew 5:43–47), live
peaceably with all people, leave revenge to God, and overcome evil with
good (Romans 12:18–21). By His power, may we “squash the beef” today.
 REFLECT
1. Why is it vital for us to not hold
grudges?

2. How will you work to restore a

broken or damaged relationship
this week?
 PRAY
Jesus, thank You that we
can forgive others
because You’ve forgiven
us.
Closing Prayer