Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 1, 2011

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 12:14-21.
 
14 Bless those who persecute you;  bless and do not curse.
 
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
 
16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
 
17  Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.  Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
 
18  If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
 
19  Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.
 
20  “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK;  FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.”
 
21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Romans 12:14-21.
 
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It is Christ within us that overcomes.  “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage;  I have overcome the world.”  John 6:33.
 
Revelation 17:14
“These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”
 
“Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  Just as it is written,

   “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:35-39. 

Notice the confidence of the Apostle John that we will overcome.

1 John 2:13
“I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning.  I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.  I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.”
 
1 John 2:14
“I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”
 
1 John 4:4
“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them;  because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
 
1 John 5:4
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world;  and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
 
1 John 5:5
“Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
 
And, there are the abundant, overflowing rewards for those who overcome!
 
Revelation 2:7
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’”
 
Revelation 2:11
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’”
 
Revelation 2:17
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’”
 
“He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;  AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father;  and I will give him the morning star.”  Revelation 2:26-28.
 
Revelation 3:5
“He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
 
Revelation 3:12
“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.”
 
Revelation 3:21
“He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
 
Revelation 21:7
“He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”
 
 
In summary, we need not be intimidated by evil nor overcome by evil.  Through God’s grace and power working in us, we can overcome evil with good.  The following verses present poetic and beautiful images for a conclusion.  Like the light of dawn chases away the darkness, God’s lovingkindness and work within us overcomes evil with good.   
 
Psalm 52:1
“Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?  The lovingkindness of God endures all day long.”
 
Proverbs 4:18
“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.”

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