Romans 12:19-21 - Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written "Vengeance is mine, I will repay" says the Lord “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

When I first encountered those verses, I thought - YES!  If I don't take revenge on those who wrong me, then God will get them!  He will make them so miserable! I am in! I will feed them and give them drink and then  God will get them - hot dog!

Does that sound like GOD????

Sometimes it's not people...it's my circumstances....

We've been looking at JOY. We all want it, seek it, relentlessly pursue it actually. 

And we learned that we have to be willing to accept personal responsibility for it. To participate in the process...commitment to JOY.

Then we learned that sin blocks JOY in our lives. That to have joy, we must stop sinning...consecration of self.

Today let's dig into that truth a little bit more. Let's examine why, if we are wired to want joy, if we desire it, why would we do the very thing that keeps us from it?