"Burn, Baby, Burn," said Romanus. –Hannah Schofield

Did someone say last blog post? Whhaaatt?? Seems like my first semester of college has swept by! Anyhow, the readings this week pulled on some real emotional strings (mostly because I have a habit of placing myself into the shoes of the characters and the characters in these portions weren't exactly the luckiest).

I want to elaborate on Romans 12:20-21 which states:

20 "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head."

21 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

How often are we wronged by someone? Next question, how many times do we have the urge to "get back at them"? All the time, right? Well, Paul strongly advises differently by telling us to basically turn the other cheek and let God handle the correction. 

In Chapter II of Eusebius's The Martyrs of Palestine, Romanus was arrested for his boldness and instead of lashing out and stooping as low as the officials, he rose above it and accepted the "punishment" just to prove his faith. The fact that he was sentenced to die by fire and "received the sentence with cheerful countenance and most ready mind" before being led away is riveting. It is said that "...he endured this with fortitude and showed to all by his deeds that the Divine Power is present with those who endure any hardship whatever for the sake of religion..." He stood firm knowing that there was only one true God and one true power to worship and bow before; he was willing to lose his life in a publically humiliating way, even asked them where the fire was and why it was taking them so long! Makes me wonder if most believers today believe that strongly.  

Commented on: Katie's & Sydney's