Overcome Evil with Good ...

Monday, Jan 12, 2015. Last week we have been talking about this biblical text, written in Romans 12: overcome evil with good. It is a strong, a fantastic text. It has moved me over the past days, again and again. Can we stay with it for another day or so?

Really good …

What the text describes here is really good. It is so good, that I am hardly able to express how deep it reaches. It describes a behaviour, which will make a real difference. What is its origin? What are its consequences? What will happen, if you just start to do what is said here?

The apostle Paul describes a behaviour which is linked to faith and to heaven. If you live in heaven, that is what you will experience. You will find genuine love. You will be treated with brotherly affection. You will be shown honor. You will be there in full unity with the Lord, serving him and being served. You will rejoice in hope, you will be in constant prayer. And the most important thing: you can rely on others. You will be sure, that they will do you good. All the time.

We are not in heaven yet, but we are already part of his eternity by faith and by his Holy Spirit. In faith you take part. That is why Paul is urging us to live in his spirit already now. That is the purpose of our life, and how great is it if heaven starts in your heart, in your mind, in your life.

Feeling his Joy …

Let us look again into the original text. Nothing is better than the bible itself. Please read from Romans 12, and let his joy be in your heart as well - in particular if you feel angry, lonely and lost. He is there, and if you sincerely pray to him, his spirit will not let you go empty.

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12, 9-21)

Our world is not as it should be. There are tribulations. There is enough evil which finds its way into our life day by day. But there is this promise, that we can live in his spirit already now - as Paul challenges us to do here. When he fills our heart and our mind, this becomes possible. (RWEP) ... more texts