If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

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Daily Devotional
Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible.
The Wisdom of God
Verses for the Day:

Proverbs 25:21-22 (KJV):
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

Proverbs 25:21-22 (AMP):
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For in doing so, you will heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord will reward you.

Thoughts for the Day:

These verses from Proverbs tell us the way to overcome evil from an enemy is to reach out and help them and by doing this, the Lord will then pay us back with a reward. One of God's provisions is the impartation of His type of love into our lives. This is the kind of love that it takes to reach out and do good to our enemies. Jesus demonstrated this kind of love when He went to the cross and died, an innocent man for the sins of all men. He then was raised from the dead by Father God. However, as He hung dying on that cross, some of the words that He uttered were, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Luke 23:33-34:
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

We are called to follow in the steps of Jesus and demonstrate the same kind of love to those who persecute us and do all manner of evil against us.

1 Peter 2:21-24:
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Our Father in heaven will reward us when we are obedient to reach out to our enemies when they are in need of the basics -- food, water and heat. When they are thirsty, we are to give them drink; when they are hungry, we are to give them food, and when they need warmth, we are to meet that need also.

I often wondered what the expression‎, "heaping coals of fire on their head" meant, as this sounds like something bad instead of good. However, I read in one of my Bible dictionaries, that this was referring to the way they started fires in Bible times. The general populace heated their homes and cooked by burning wood or bits of charcoal in small clay stoves. Most of the stoves were easily portable and women would even carry them on their heads. Most people would attempt to stoke their stoves at night so that there would be coals left in the morning in order to stir them up and start a fire for breakfast. If the fire had gone out, the practice was to find a neighbor who had some coals and borrow from them to start their own fire. They would put their small clay stove on their head (they also carried their water pots in the same manner), and would go looking for some coals. Therefore, when the reference is made about "heaping coals of fire on their head," this would be a good thing, as giving them live coals to start their fire for the day would be another way to help them.

As children of God, we are called to overcome evil with good, go the second mile, bless those who persecute us and do good to our enemies. By doing these things, we will not only please God, our Father, but our acts of goodness will demonstrate the love of our Father and evil will be conquered.

Romans 12:17-21:
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Matthew 5:44-48:
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for forgiving me of my sins. Lord, I now need Your love for the sinners that touch my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I might love them the way You love them. Jesus, show me how to reach out to those that are coming against me in an evil way. May I demonstrate Your love in such a way that they will want to know You, the One who gives us love for our enemies. Fill me daily with Your love and grace so that I am a good example of what it means to be a Christian. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.