Today’s Devotion
Topic: Overcome Evil With Good!
Text: Romans 12:19- 21
19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Amen.
Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.” However each time he strategize like that, the Army of Israel would outsmart his efforts till he was sure an informant from his quarters leaks vital information to the king of Israel.
To this he inquired and was told a certain prophet in Isreal was so discerning that he told the king of Isreal the very words the king of Aram shared in his bedroom. “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.”
Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
Then Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria. After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?” “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.”
So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory” (2 Kings 6: 13- 23).
Beloved don’t you think you draw the battlelines too quickly? Like each time anyone offends you, there you are, ready to fight them to prove that you are tough and cannot be taken for a ride. This you do till the whole situation escalates to involve and affect others who could have been spared the trauma of an unnecessary conflict.
Why dont you let things go while you warm up to show kindness to those who percecute you? Especially when you know from scripture that doing so heaps burning coals on their heads? Why don’t you let go and allow God to take revenge on your behalf? Who is best at handling things like this, you or God?
Meditate on this and begin to pray. Ask God to take away this revengeful heart you have and give you a tolerable, yet forgiving heart that seeks the good of all (including those who hate you). Remember “blessed are the peacemakers, they shall be called the children of God” (Mat 5: 9). Therefore overcome all evil leveled against you with GOOD. Your Father in heaven will fight for you. HE WILL NEVER LET YOU FALL.
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