With Good - by Bec Bonython

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

This verse struck me as I was reading the daily New Testament reading last week.  This verse is the summary of previous verses which talk about:

• Blessing those who persecute you;

• Don’t repay evil for evil;

• Do what is right in the eyes of everybody;

• Do not take revenge.

Then Paul says, so guys the bottom line is this: “do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”.

How counter-intuitive is this! How radical is the Word of God! How surreal yet so vital!

My natural reaction is that if someone was to do evil to me or my family, I would want to hurt them back.  If there is evil around in the world, I want them to pay and let justice be done!

But the Word of God says, no.  Bring good into the situation. Bring kindness into the situation. Bring hope into the situation. Bring love into the situation. Bring right and Godly ACTION into the situation which shows your love and kindness (TO SOMEONE WHO HAS HURT YOU!!!!) by doing something good for them. Go above and beyond. Overwhelm them with kindness and give them what they need to be BLESSED. If they are hungry, feed them and if they are thirsty give them a drink.  The bible says we need to use good to fight evil.  This is really hard stuff!

Yet God is there is help us. God says, trust me.  Trust me enough to have the assurance that their actions will not go unnoticed.  God says, allow Me to determine their judgement, not you.  Let me do my thing, and you do yours. What I ask of you is that you show love and blessings towards them. Do not allow their mean or sinful actions to control you, but make the right decision to choose peace as your response.

I pray this week that you will be doers of the word of God, to those who have hurt you in the past or to those who are your enemy today. Live in faith and allow God to be God.

by Rebecca Bonython