Overcome Evil with Good

Whenever my Bible reading plan includes Romans Chapter 12, my heart leaps for joy. It is such life-changing advice for us in our Christian walk. In it we read the apostle Paul saying we must not allow ourselves to be passively controlled by the society around us. ‘Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect'. (verse 2).  He concludes that chapter by saying (verse 21).  'Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.'

In between, he talks about the community of fellow believers. Everyone has certain strengths and weaknesses. God wants us to bless each other in whatever way we can. How easy it is to be critical of others’ weaknesses! We need to learn how to be humble about the things we think we can do better than them. Maybe they can teach us about the things they do better than us. But are we ready to learn?

‘Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us’. (verse 3) ‘In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well’ (verse 6a)

We recently had a sermon at church about not being envious or jealous of other Christians when they are more successful than us in their ministries. This would certainly be allowing the enemy to cause a division in the Body of Christ.  Paul suggests a better way. ‘Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other’ (verse 10).

I personally love to hear of other Christians doing well in leading people to Jesus, bringing healing to their lives, seeing them go through the waters of Baptism and transforming their communities. I also love to read books that show me what God has done in the lives of Christians in the past.

I find it dispels the gloom and pessimism which seems to pervade the world we live in. There is plenty of bad news in all forms of the media, which seem bent on telling us how we should be worried or angry about everything, and how we need to blame someone and complain all the time.

Let us rejoice whenever God’s people are successful anywhere in the world! Let’s be transformed by the way we think and overcome evil with good!