Romans 12 is one of the spectacularly rich chapters in the Word of God that touches nearly every area of life. It talks about sacrifice, worship, church body life, gifts, grace, humility, love, zeal and many other things like how to overcome evil. We have our children memorize this entire chapter several times in their lives because it is so rich.
Romans 12:17 (NIV)
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil…
Romans 12:21 (NIV)
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The thing about overcoming evil is it is hard! Christianity isn’t for wimps! It is a way of life that self sacrifice and self control is given and demanded in order to demonstrate the Kingdom of God. Let’s be honest, I want to fight fire with fire many times. When someone cuts me down, I have on my tongue within milliseconds a response to make someone feel like a jerk and never do it again. It comes natural to me – it’s a gift. However the gift of my Father is mercy and self control to which I MUST yield if I am to “win”, and I love winning! The win is only through being good to people who are being evil toward you. That means we don’t give them back “what they deserve”. That means that we don’t talk about them behind their back (man is that hard), not even to your spouse! That means we don’t avoid them or complain or anything else but figure out a way to bless them. If we can’t figure anything else out, just bless them audibly.
There is a promise in the Bible that is still true today; “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.” If people are being evil to me and rendering curses with backbiting, gossip, judgments or outright harmful to my face evil, God will unleash curses against them – even if they are Christians! There will be a removal of protection from evil and evil will have it’s way to some extent. I need to pray for those people and not act in an evil fashion toward them! If I do, I may be in the same boat they are in! Don’t get caught in that boat, but learn the Kingdom way to overcome evil – with good!
Pastor Terry of Hope Chapel OC blogs the Words of life from the Spirit of God
Last Days of This Blog
This will be the last month of this blog at this address. If you would like to continue to read my blog, email me at pt@hopeoc.org and I will send you updated information.
PT
PT and Lora welcome you to the blog. Read my profile below.
Reading Plan
We are almost done! Through the Bible in a year! Don't let the season stop you from your goal! Keep reading and meditating!
Dec 20- Heb 12, Esther 1-2, Ps 108
Dec 21- Heb 13, Esther 3-6
Dec 22- James 1, Esther 7-10
Dec 23- James 2, Ezra 7-8
Dec 24- James 3, Ezra 9-10, Ps 28
Dec 25- James 4, Neh 1-3, Ps 120
Dec 26- James 5, Neh 4-6, Ps 93
Dec 27- 1 John 1, Neh 7-8
Dec 28- 1 John 2, Neh 9-10
Dec 29- 1 John 3, Neh 11-12
Dec 30- 1 John 4, Neh 13, Mal 1-2
Dec 31- 1 John 5, Mal 3-4, Ps 78
Dec 20- Heb 12, Esther 1-2, Ps 108
Dec 21- Heb 13, Esther 3-6
Dec 22- James 1, Esther 7-10
Dec 23- James 2, Ezra 7-8
Dec 24- James 3, Ezra 9-10, Ps 28
Dec 25- James 4, Neh 1-3, Ps 120
Dec 26- James 5, Neh 4-6, Ps 93
Dec 27- 1 John 1, Neh 7-8
Dec 28- 1 John 2, Neh 9-10
Dec 29- 1 John 3, Neh 11-12
Dec 30- 1 John 4, Neh 13, Mal 1-2
Dec 31- 1 John 5, Mal 3-4, Ps 78
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