The course on Emotional Health Issues is coming up. People sometimes wonder why we should bother with all this “emotional stuff” instead of concentrating on the spiritual side of things. The following devotion was given by a former student to highlight the connection between our emotional and spiritual lives.
NOT Romans 12:9-21
Only pretend to love other people. Enjoy the wicked pleasures in life, doing good is boring. Treat everyone as a potential enemy. No one but you deserves honour. Be lazy and look after yourself. You have nothing to live for, avoid hardship, you’re on your own. Only help those who will give you something back. Punish those who hurt you, don’t let them get away with it. Don’t show emotions, people will exploit you. Don’t worry what other people think about you. Make sure the right people see how great you are; avoid those who aren’t important. You always know best. Take revenge, and make sure people know they can’t cross you. Conflict is inevitable, enjoy the fight. No-one else is looking out for you, make sure you get justice. Only do good to your friends, your enemies deserve to suffer. The world is a bad place, you have to be tough to survive.
This version is the way of the world. It represents sinful reactions to events, and will ultimately lead to massive emotional problems… bitterness, rage, anger, jealousy, hatred, as opposed to but the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
We all sometimes reacted to events in the ways described in the above version, not in God’s version. Spend a couple of minutes quietly confessing to God about times you have reacted badly
Here is the real version as a prayer: Let love be genuine. Let us abhor what is evil and hold fast to what is good. Let us Love one another with brotherly affection. Let us outdo one another in showing honor. Let us not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Let us rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Let us contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Let us bless those who persecute us; bless and do not curse them. Let us rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Let us live in harmony with one another. Let us not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Let us never be wise in our own sight. Let us not repay evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. Let us, if possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, let us never avenge ourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”To the contrary, “if our enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing we will heap burning coals on his head.” Let us not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.(Romans 12:9-21)
H.T.