Daily Devotionals.

The command is not to feel good about your enemies. Paul gives a direct, two-part instruction. First, bless those who persecute you. Then he repeats it for emphasis and adds a firm boundary: “bless and do not curse them.” This is not a suggestion for the spiritually mature. It is a clear command for every believer. For the Roman Christians facing real opposition, this was a radical and countercultural way to live. It set them apart from a world that ran on retaliation and revenge. It showed their citizenship was in another kingdom.

This command feels impossible, does it not? Your first human instinct when hurt is to hurt back with your words. But God calls you to His standard, not the world's. He wants your life to reflect His character. Remember, He blessed you when you were His enemy (Rom 5:10). As one early teacher said, blessing our persecutors shows everyone that we serve a good Master. This is not about your strength. It is about trusting God's power to work through you. He gives you the grace to choose blessing over cursing. Will you let His love have the final word today?

Instead of rehearsing the offense done to you, what is one good thing you can pray for that person today?

Lord Jesus, my heart wants to curse when I am wounded. Give me Your heart to bless instead, and fill my mouth with words of grace. I trust You to handle the injustice as I choose love. Amen.

In the Roman world, it was common to buy lead “curse tablets” from sorcerers to ask the gods to harm an enemy. Paul's command was a direct challenge to this accepted cultural practice.