1-28-2025

Good Morning All,

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

    As I watch some of the NFL playoff games, I am reminded of the old adage that the second guy to throw a punch is the one that gets the penalty.  It seems that when one player gets away with a late or cheap hit, the second player usually gets mad and retaliates and gets caught.  We see this occur all the time in sports, but we also see it in life.

    Whenever we deal with very difficult people, those people to whom ethics seem like a word for others to know and someone else to have; it becomes difficult to stay true to ourselves.  It is very tempting to use some of his own tactics back at him.  This is especially true when you know what his tactics are and what he is trying to do.  We can see the trap he is placing in front of us, and we can avoid it.  But what do we do when we don’t see the trap and then we fall into it?

    This is when our anger can get the best of, and we become what we despise.  We can become wicked, deceitful, deceptive, petty, and underhanded.  This not only plays into the hands of those who hate us and look to discredit Christians.  It makes it harder to witness to our faith when we have engaged in this kind of deceit.  It can be especially destructive if it “works” one time, and we feel that we experience some worldly success.  This tempts us to believe that we can get away with it again.  It can tempt us to think that we are “above” God’s law and will.  This temptation takes us back to the Garden where the devil tempted Eve with the promise to be “like God”.

    This type of action really serves the devil’s purpose.  It draws us away from God and ensnares us into the devil’s trap.  Whenever we engage in this type of activity, we will be overcome by evil; we cannot beat the devil at his own game.   

    Our only chance is to follow God’s direction.  This is one of those verses that give us some very practical advice as well as theological teaching.  We, as God’s redeemed children, are never able to battle the devil especially on his turf and on his terms.  We must always cling to God, His promises, and His justice.  We may never see what we feel will be “justice.”  Yet by our staying true to our faith, we are witnessing to God’s grace and truth.  When we repay evil with good, we confound the ones who commit the evil.  More importantly, we are speaking the words of God’s precise Gospel message.  We show love to those who hate us just as Christ did and instructs us to.

Dear Father in heaven, temptation is all around us.  We try to stand up to it and fail miserably.  Give us wisdom to rely on you and your strength and not our own.  Give us the strength to stand to our foes and that by your grace; we may show your glory to the world.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret