Resisting the Fight - Romans 12:17

 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. - Romans 12:17


    If two sides were engaged in mutual combat in the middle of a field, how would we be able to determine the right side from the wrong side? The good from the bad? The moral from the immoral? If their tactics were the same, their anger the same, their violence the same, how could we tell? Without some symbol or uniform there would be no way to tell; they would all seem to be the same: simply two sides fighting one another. Our title verse seems to close out such options for Christians pacing for a fight. “Repay no one evil for evil,” is not a call to us to lay down our lives before violent men but a call to us to resist the use of violence to merely remedy what we see as “evil.”
    “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” - Romans 12:18. The command is clear - “live peaceably”, if it is possible and as much as it depends upon us. The mere presence of evil in the world is nothing new and certainly cannot excuse us for using tactics similar to those of unbelievers. Such behavior neither justifies us nor ingratiates us to our heavenly Father. His command is clear.
    “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” - Romans 12:19. Perceived wrongs, whether from the secular world or the state, may in deed be wrong in the eyes of the Lord, but we are not contracted by God to undue these wrongs. We must not support them but we must not take it upon ourselves to extract the vengeance that belongs to God alone!
    “Therefore, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” - Romans 12: 20-21. Our heavenly Father is the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth. He is in no imminent danger of being “a king deposed.” There is no power in the universe, either physical or spiritual,  that can undo God’s sovereignty.
     Let our goodness heap coals of fire upon the heads of those who are evil and let us patiently remain faithful in prayer as we wait upon God’s holy judgment against those who deny Him. Anathema maranatha.