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

This whole section, from verse 9 on, is one potent truth after another. Every verse would make a good motivational poster! This verse summarizes it fairly well. There is plenty of evil in the world, and the devil would love to see us give up. However, that’s never a real option, however tempting it might seem at times. Bad things happen constantly, and bad people often seem to be on the ascendant. When that’s the way things look, we need to remember Jesus. He was the ultimate example of overcoming evil with good. Just hours before He was arrested, treated horribly, and then crucified, He told His disciples, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) He stated His victory as present fact, even though for the next several hours it would look like He had lost horribly. We need to remember that our victory is assured, whatever is happening in the moment. That even, or especially, applies in martyrdom. Those who die physically because of their faithfulness to Christ are rewarded magnificently in eternity. Good is stronger than evil, because as John wrote, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) The Bible is consistent on this point: victory belongs to God, and those who are in Him share in His victory. Paul’s statement in this verse seems simplistic to some, even naïve, but it rests on absolute truth.

I have tasted this on countless occasions, but there have certainly been times when it seemed less than certain. One of the devil’s tricks is to distort and even weaponize kindness, divorcing it from righteousness, justice, and holiness and making it, ironically enough, a tool of evil. Some things that are trumpeted as kind are, when fully examined, cruel in the extreme. I am not to be deceived by that, nor to be intimidated by being called racist and the like. I am to walk in obedience to my Lord and let Him defend me. I am not to overlook opportunities to do good, but at the same time, recognize that I couldn’t begin to do it all myself. God has many children! I am to seek God’s standards as to what is true and what is good, and not be deceived by the lies of current culture. If I will do that, other people will have their eyes opened to do likewise, and evil will be overcome indeed.

Father thank You for this reminder. There is so much going on, it’s easy to get distracted. I ask for Your anointing as I preach and teach today, that the believers may be encouraged and lifted up and the Body of Christ strengthened, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!