http://www.hope1032.com.au
LifeWords
2/7/2010

THE UGLY FACE OF FAITH
Read Romans 12:21

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Followers of Jesus are rightly warned to be on their guard against the evil one. He uses individuals and institutions to attack the faith. His ways can be subtle and he never lets up. This means we can often be on the defensive. We are so concerned to resist evil that we might make two mistakes.
One is to see evil where there is none. Just because someone opposes me or thinks differently to me or causes irritation in me does not mean they are evil. The other mistake is to adopt a suspicious, aggressive mentality. Given we are in a battle, we take it literally and fight. Usually with words, but these can be ugly enough.

Sadly, Christians can too often be known by what they are against. They are the eternal opposition party. They can carry on like guard dogs making ferocious noises in the apparent defense of truth or righteousness (or more cynically, their own opinions). They are so busy hating error and fighting enemies that they don't have a lot of time and energy left over for loving Jesus and being gracious to those who oppose him.

And yet we need to resist evil and defend truth. Which brings us to this single text, a verse which wraps up Paul's instructions about how we are to relate to others as followers of Jesus. Paul urges us to battle evil with good. Don't become nasty in defence of grace. Don't become vindictive in defence of righteousness. Don't become angry in defence of love. Let's be known for our passionate embrace of the love of God, not for our aggressive stance against Satan. Let's resist evil, but let's do it in a good way.

Blessings
David Reay

Courtesy: David http://www.hope1032.com.au

Jesus said ~ I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. John 10:14 KJV

Let's be known for our passionate embrace of the love of God, not for our aggressive stance against Satan.

I love this part.

Just saw this. Thank you again and again.