April 9, 2015 OVERCOMING EVIL
Romans 12: 21: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
One evidence of being free is that of overcoming evil with good. There is a broad spectrum of evil—ranging from perhaps a wrong thought one end and something as evil as murder on the other end. Evil can be defined as that which is opposite of good. One comment I read describing evil was: “Elements that are commonly associated with evil involve unbalanced behavior involving expediency, selfishness, ignorance, or neglect.” For simplicity, let us think of evil as being that which is opposite of good. I believe that all of us face evil of some sort often. The evil we face may come from within, in the form of thoughts that are not good-that are not right; and these thoughts can lead to wrong action. We also will come face to face with evil that is from without. The evil we face may come in the form attitudes and words from others, or it may be in the form of serious crime or actions against us. When we encounter evil from without, we may have the tendency to respond with evil. It is possible for us to have an unholy anger toward those who desire to harm us in some way, and if we do, then we are also giving way to evil.
How we respond to the evil we encounter is crucial as our response to evil reveals what is in our heart. Jesus has the amazing power and ability to say in just a few words what we may try to say in a book. What Jesus says about dealing with evil is so “simple”, yet so profound. Jesus’ life on earth demonstrated overcoming evil with good. Even while He was on the cross, Jesus overcame evil when He asked God to forgive the very ones that crucified Him. God, our Father, is good and He has given us a new nature whereby we may also be about good works. There are only two kingdoms-one of darkness and one of light-and we have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. Because we are light in a dark world, we should expect to encounter evil, and when we do, we have the power to overcome the evil with good. I have witnessed many times how a “good” or proper word changed the direction of what was going to be a conversation giving ground to evil. I have also witnessed how an act of kindness toward someone who had said or done something wrong, totally changed the response and the attitude of the one who was wrong. If you drive a vehicle, you have most likely experienced “road rage” in some form. It irritates me for someone to cut in front of me when I am driving-however, if I can just remember to say “God bless them”, the angry response I felt rising up dissipates.
There is a battle going on in the world-a battle of good and evil. There are those who do not know God that may do what appears to be a good work or a good deed. However, as believers, we have a super-natural power and ability to do just as Jesus said, and overcome evil with good. We do not have to fear evil or be alarmed when encounter evil. If the evil we encounter brings out a wrong response in us, then we are not living in freedom. Most of the time, the evil we face is not that of murder or crime, but comes in the form of words from those who have wrong motives or wrong responses toward us. When we face strife, jealously, anger and discord, let us be quick to overcome evil and anything contrary to the kingdom of light.
Ephesians 6:16: “in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.”
Matthew 5:44-45: “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Romans 12: 21: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
One evidence of being free is that of overcoming evil with good. There is a broad spectrum of evil—ranging from perhaps a wrong thought one end and something as evil as murder on the other end. Evil can be defined as that which is opposite of good. One comment I read describing evil was: “Elements that are commonly associated with evil involve unbalanced behavior involving expediency, selfishness, ignorance, or neglect.” For simplicity, let us think of evil as being that which is opposite of good. I believe that all of us face evil of some sort often. The evil we face may come from within, in the form of thoughts that are not good-that are not right; and these thoughts can lead to wrong action. We also will come face to face with evil that is from without. The evil we face may come in the form attitudes and words from others, or it may be in the form of serious crime or actions against us. When we encounter evil from without, we may have the tendency to respond with evil. It is possible for us to have an unholy anger toward those who desire to harm us in some way, and if we do, then we are also giving way to evil.
How we respond to the evil we encounter is crucial as our response to evil reveals what is in our heart. Jesus has the amazing power and ability to say in just a few words what we may try to say in a book. What Jesus says about dealing with evil is so “simple”, yet so profound. Jesus’ life on earth demonstrated overcoming evil with good. Even while He was on the cross, Jesus overcame evil when He asked God to forgive the very ones that crucified Him. God, our Father, is good and He has given us a new nature whereby we may also be about good works. There are only two kingdoms-one of darkness and one of light-and we have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. Because we are light in a dark world, we should expect to encounter evil, and when we do, we have the power to overcome the evil with good. I have witnessed many times how a “good” or proper word changed the direction of what was going to be a conversation giving ground to evil. I have also witnessed how an act of kindness toward someone who had said or done something wrong, totally changed the response and the attitude of the one who was wrong. If you drive a vehicle, you have most likely experienced “road rage” in some form. It irritates me for someone to cut in front of me when I am driving-however, if I can just remember to say “God bless them”, the angry response I felt rising up dissipates.
There is a battle going on in the world-a battle of good and evil. There are those who do not know God that may do what appears to be a good work or a good deed. However, as believers, we have a super-natural power and ability to do just as Jesus said, and overcome evil with good. We do not have to fear evil or be alarmed when encounter evil. If the evil we encounter brings out a wrong response in us, then we are not living in freedom. Most of the time, the evil we face is not that of murder or crime, but comes in the form of words from those who have wrong motives or wrong responses toward us. When we face strife, jealously, anger and discord, let us be quick to overcome evil and anything contrary to the kingdom of light.
Ephesians 6:16: “in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.”
Matthew 5:44-45: “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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