Isaiah 6:5-7 ESV 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”
Romans 12:17-21 Phillips 17 Don’t pay back a bad turn by a bad turn, to anyone. Don’t say “it doesn’t matter what people think”, but see that your public behaviour is above criticism. 18 As far as your responsibility goes, live at peace with everyone. 19 Never take vengeance into your own hands, my dear friends: stand back and let God punish if he will. For it is written: ‘Vengeance is mine. I will repay’. 20-21 … these are God’s words: ‘Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head’. Don’t allow yourself to be overpowered with evil. Take the offensive—overpower evil by good!
Observation
Romans 12 should make us uncomfortable as we examine ourselves. Starting with the challenge to become a living sacrifice, continuing with the charge to set aside our desires to be recognized to meekly and humbly take our place in the Body and ending with practical guidance on how to represent our Lord every day, in every way by making sure our love is sincere (not for show or for duty). So, what does Paul mean by heaping burning coals on someone’s head? As we see in the Isaiah passage, burning coals from the altar are associated with humble repentance and purification in God’s presence. Heaping burning coals means our response with active kindness toward those who have wronged us will, first get their attention, and then move them toward remorse, repentance, and possibly reconciliation. This is so Romans Chapter 12!
“Don’t allow yourself to be overpowered with evil. Take the offensive—overpower evil by good!” are the last words, the crown of this chapter. This concept of repaying evil with good is threaded through the entire Bible. I think of how Joseph received and forgave his brothers, just one example of mercy triumphing over judgment. When we return evil for good, mercy for judgment, love for hate, it is surprising, arresting, even shocking and unbelievable, for those who do not understand why. If it brings conviction and repentance, we successfully heaped those burning coals on their heads. Romans 2:4 tells us that kindness brings repentance, which is the result of God’s patience and kindness of toward us. If it works for Him, it will work for us. This chapter summarizes many of the ways our God turns our thinking upside down to bring our perspective right side up.
Impact on Me
Do not misunderstand me here. It is one of the most difficult sacrifices to love your enemy, pray for those who spitefully use you, or forgive evil done against you. I hear the testimonies of those who have forgiven the murderer of their husband, child or other loved one and admire the depth and strength of faith it must take to do so. God asks us to make this kind of sacrifice because He created and loves every tortured soul who exercises evil on others. His heart aches to see those deceived by the Most Evil One exit his darkness and torment to come out into the freedom provided in Christ. Nonetheless, my human emotions strongly wrestle against the desire to obey and forgive when it hurts so much.
When I first embraced a personal relationship with Jesus, I came with burning coals on my head – full of humble repentance, conviction of my sins, a desire to be made clean and whole in God’s sight whatever the cost and so grateful for His patience and kindness to coax me into His presence. If I want to be like Him, I need to practice the same patience, reserving my judgment of others along their journeys, because at one time I was just as they are – a sinner living and serving in the wrong kingdom. Romans 12 always reminds me that to be a disciple of Jesus may require sacrifice. I must love God and others while letting Him take care of loving me.
Devotion
God of Mercy and Grace, Almighty, Everlasting Father, You are worthy of all our praise. I would look funny to others if I went around with a hat full of burning coals, but I repent often so that must be the way you see me come. Help me to be kinder to the unkind, more humble before the arrogant, silent before my accuser, and always ready to repent to You when I fail to meet the holiness challenge You set before me. Because I know You are a loving Father, I have confidence that You will continue to pick me up when I fall and lead me forward in pathways of righteousness because You love me. Make it so, in Jesus’ name.
Pressing On In His Footsteps 