Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21

All through this chapter the Lord’s Apostle Paul has been repeating things the Lord Himself had said: love your enemies; do good to those who mistreat you; if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he’s thirsty, give him something to drink; rejoice with him when good things happen in his life, weep with him when he’s sad…

At the end of a whole chapter of practical instructions for living as a Christian in a world that hates everything you represent, Paul wraps it up with this double-barreled conclusion: the way to keep from being overcome by evil is to overcome evil with good.

The world thought they had overcome Jesus when they had Him falsely accused and crucified. “Ha,ha! We’ve got You now!” they said. They didn’t know that they were playing right into God’s hands.

So it is with you. By being like Him, you will overcome evil with good. You’ll discover that after the cross comes the resurrection. Pray with Him, “Father, not my will, but Yours be done.”

Lord Jesus, You set the example for me, and You’ve come to me by Your Spirit to comfort me and to strengthen me to do this Your way. Show me how to overcome with good the evil that surrounds me, today. Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles