Overcome Evil With Good!
Proverbs 25:21
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
Have you ever regularly prayed for one of your biggest enemies? Did your heart change toward that person? How?
We live in a world that says, you should hate anyone who thinks just a little different than you do. Some universities have safe zone buttons on campus in case someone says something you disagree with, and therefor feel compromised. If you push this blue button security will come quickly and put an end to this intolerable idea of someone creating an environment where you could possibly disagree with one of their statements. My natural reaction to something this silly, is frustration and a desire to toughen people up by many means necessary. But that won’t make a bad situation better, it will only make things worse because it goes against God’s word.
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
There’s nothing more counter-cultural than reacting to evil with good. Remember, no matter how you are being bullied by someone, your struggle is not against the bully, but against something far more sinister.
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
It’s important to remember that we should never expect people who don’t have faith in Jesus to act as though they do. If that was the case, Jesus wouldn’t have needed to conquer death and sin. The next time you are bullied, try praying before you say anything in response, and see if that changes what you say, after your prayer.
How did Jesus overcome evil with good and love His enemies?
Maybe we can do the same, in His strength and love.
