TODAY’S TURNING POINT WITH DR. DAVID JEREMIAH 22 APRIL 2026 DAILY DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE
Read David Jeremiah Daily Devotional 22 April 2026, Wednesday Turning Point Devotional Message
TOPIC: Coals of Love
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
Proverbs 25:21-22
Recommended Reading: Romans 12:14; 17-21
A strange, ancient practice used as a metaphor occurs in Proverbs 25:22 and in Romans 12:20. The metaphor is based on an apparent practice of a guilty party being forced to carry a container of burning coals on his head. Some scholars think the practice was common in Egypt; the intent seems to be to motivate a guilty party to repent of his actions. The writer of Proverbs and the apostle Paul both cite the practice (as a metaphor) when encouraging charitable actions toward one’s enemy. In other words, charitable actions toward an enemy may motivate him to repent of his evil deeds.
There are examples in Scripture of feeding and clothing enemy captives in times of war (2 Kings 6:22; 2 Chronicles 28:15), and exhortations against seeking vengeance against those who have hurt you (Romans 12:14, 17-21). Jesus corrected a Jewish tradition that allowed for hating one’s enemies: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you” (Matthew 5:43-44).
If you have been hurt, follow Jesus’ example and be kind.
TURNING POINT
The success of the Gospel exasperates its enemies.
Matthew Henry
Thru-the-Bible in One Year: 2 King 11-13
Turning Point God was founded in 1982 as the broadcast ministry of Dr. David Jeremiah to deliver the unchanging Word of God to an ever-changing world