Listen

Instead, If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. By doing this, you will pile burning coals of fire upon his head. Don’t be defeated by evil, but defeat evil with good.

Romans 12:20-21

Think

In the verses prior to ours Paul urges the Roman Christians not to pay back evil actions with evil, not to take revenge against those who do them wrong. Then in our passage Paul draws on Scripture to tell the Romans how they should respond to their enemies instead — by acting in a way that’s unexpected.

One of my favorite memes says, “Love your enemies. It makes them so mad.” While that may not be the most Christian sentiment, it does speak to the fact that love disarms hate. If someone annoys you and you respond with humor and grace, you will likely feel better yourself, while letting them know that you won’t go down that dark hole with them.

How do you use humor and happiness to bless those around you?

Heidi J. Kim

Pray

Good and Gracious God, thank you for the gift of humor. Strengthen me to love in the face of hate, to laugh in the face of derision, and to bless all those around me through empathy and joy. Amen.

Go

Let peace remind me to enter with love.

Let love remind me to make space for God.

May God’s grace help me to see and be seen!