Paul is describing the worship of our God, and I usually call this, What is your why? Paul goes on to say, we need to be a living sacrifice to our God, giving up seeking what we want from life and learn to know and serve what God wants. What does that begin with? It’s using our spiritual gifts to serve each other in the church and our fellow man. Our goal as Christians is to love and lift each other up. We must focus our expectation on eternity and wait with patience and prayer for our Father to provide. We must refuse to sink to evil’s level, giving good to those who harm us instead of revenge.
I thought I knew all I needed to know about being, “usefully good”. I was wrong. I just knew a lot about evil. You see in these polarized times, people live inside their social media echoes of “I” chambers of their own extremism, growing ever more pretentious. Each day, the digital waters we swim in causes us to deepen our entrenchment of our beliefs with a growing willingness to caricature our opponents. When forced into contact with the other side of good, we become repulsed and indignant. How could anyone be so stupid? Are you shocked to discover the one thing that unites us with them is that they feel exactly the same way in return, frightful and not trusting our vulnerability? The human way is to curse those who curse us and try to overcome evil with eviler. But, according to Romans 12:21, we can only overcome evil with good. God’s goodness is stronger than any evil.
‘My friends at Corinth, our hearts are wide open to you and we speak freely, holding nothing back from you. If there is a block in our relationship, it is not with us, for we carry you in our hearts with great love, yet you still withhold your affections from us. So, I speak to you as our children Make room in your hearts for us as we have done for you”. 2 Corinthians 6: 11-13 So, “Why am I so afraid of Vulnerability”?
The godless of the world “hate what is good”. 2 Timothy 3:3
Yet, So many of us hide and even feel uneasy just hearing those words; we don’t want to open wide our hearts and hold nothing back. Which is opposite to building real and meaningful relationships. But what we are really uncomfortable with is the unaddressed fears that we associate with the concept of opening wide our hearts.
One heartbeat, knowing there’s a risk that the other party won’t reciprocate. “Love must be sincere”? Hate what is evil; cling to what is good” Romans 12:9. Paul points out that true believers love genuinely, without hypocrisy, and overcome evil with good. But God’s children are lovers of good. We hate evil because it is the enemy of all that is good. God Himself is good and the source of all goodness. Mark 10:18 Everything God creates is “very good” in every aspect Genesis 1:31.
We overcome evil the same way, with good. The Lord says that vengeance belongs to Him and He will repay Hebrews 10:30. So, what does that mean? That we can entrust ourselves to God, just like Jesus did, and know that He will work even those evil acts committed against us for our good. Romans 8:28. When we refuse to respond in kind to those who would persecute us, their evil actions stand alone, whereas retaliation brings us down to the level of the instigators. When two people are fighting especially with their rhetorical words, and one is clearly attacking the other, evil is highlighted for all to hear and see. When we return a soft word, a kindness, or generosity to someone who has wronged us, which is the beauty of being vulnerable, we leave the perpetrator alone in his evil.
Proverb 25:21-22 says, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will hear burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” Paul quotes this passage in Romans 12:20, just before his command to “overcome evil with good.” To “heap burning coals on his head” probably refers to the natural response of the enemy to kindness. Nothing makes us feel more shamed and embarrassed by our actions than someone reacting to our hurtful behavior with gentle forgiveness. Kindness in the face of unkindness demonstrates the stark contrast between the two. The goal of a gentle reaction to the enemy is not to embarrass or get the last word but to help facilitate repentance in the evildoer.
If we remember a few key things, we are on our way to overcoming evil with good:
1. I am not the judge; God is. He will do what is right Genesis 18:25.
2. As a Christian, my response to evil should not copy the world’s behavior but reflect Christ, who is in me Romans 12:1-2.
3. Keeping my eyes on Jesus helps me know how to respond when I am treated poorly Hebrews 12:2.
4. God is always watching and evaluating my choices, and He wants to reward me for obeying Him Matthew 5:43-48.
Jesus reminded the Pharisees that Satan cannot drive out Satan. Likewise, evil cannot drive out evil. An evil response only doubles the evil. When we respond to evil in humility and grace, we are proving that good triumphs over wickedness. We cannot stop people from doing evil, but they cannot force us to participate with them. It takes no power, might, or wisdom to retaliate against evildoers. But returning good for evil is one of the greatest demonstrations of strength.
Do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God” 3 John 1:11; Clinging to what is good draws us into a closer relationship with Christ, which in turn results in Christlikeness of character: “even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. Christians have been promised an end to suffering. Suffering in this life will happen, but it will end, for those who have faith in Christ. Not only that, believers will be “restored” from all the harm done to us.
He is your example that we cling to.
What is good by clinging to the Lord. Jesus Christ in us is all the goodness we need to be wholly good.
Gods Blessings And This Ministry!
