Do not be overwhelmed by evil, but overwhelm evil with good. “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness––by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” Regardless of the evil that comes against you, you respond to what is good. Evil wants to overtake you, consume you and wants you to be like him. “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
In this struggle that we are in, evil’s goal is to overtake you for his desire. We are to resist him. “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double–minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” “not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” To overcome evil we must use good to do this. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” The reason we use good to overcome evil, goodness is a fruit of the spirit. Goodness is God’s glory. And it’s the goodness of God that leads men to repent. “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” That’s why we walk in the spirit so we don’t fulfill the desire of the flesh. “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
I pray that this helps you in your walk with the Lord. “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Be blessed. My friends.
