Confessing Our Sin with Romans 12:14-21

 This is from Sunday, 19 December 2021. First, the reading of God's prescriptions from Romans 12:14-21, and then the confession of sin in light of that passage.

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, 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 your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:14-21)

And now with the whole church, let us confess:

O God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, we acknowledge and confess to you that we have sinned by not doing what you command and doing what you forbid. When persecuted we would rather curse than bless. We don’t often rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Harmony and humility are too often absent in our lives. And when it comes to evil, we want to repay in kind, and sometimes we do, in thought, or word, or deed. For the sake of your Son who endured hostilities from sinners, who when he was reviled did not revile in return, who when he suffered did not threaten, forgive us these sins and all others. Help us to turn, and to give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. Where possible, so far as it depends on us, aid us to live peaceably with all and not to avenge ourselves. O dear Father, by the power of your Spirit, help us to not be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good. Amen. (From Exodus 34:6; Romans 12:14-21)