March 23rd, 2018

The Power of Overcoming Evil with Good

“…overcome evil with good.”  Rom. 12:21

We are called by God to “overcome evil with good” and have regard for good things.  This begins with our thought pattern – are we thinking evil thoughts or good thoughts, especially when we perceive we have been wronged.   To overcome evil with good, we sometimes must re-focus our thoughts, finding what is honest and true, and thinking on such things.  As we concentrate our thoughts on the true and honest, we will find two things:

Ø  We are drawn closer in relationship to the Lord; and,

Ø  We reflect what we behold:  truth and honesty, well-pleasing to the Lord!

Friends, this is Kingdom thinking, which leads to Kingdom speaking and Kingdom actions.  As we meditate upon those things are good and pleasant, our speech will change.   Prov. 16:24 indicates that: “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.”   We might say that “sweet speech” brings health and healing.  Pleasant speech emanates from pleasant thoughts.

In Matthew 15:18 -19, Jesus responds to criticism that He eats with unwashed hands by saying, “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man unclean. “   In essence the Lord is instructing us to be more concerned about our unwashed hearts, rather than unwashed hands.  Such evil thoughts are to be stopped and replaced by thoughts of a good report.  Through the Holy Spirit, it can happen!  All of these are instructions to the Kingdom life, filled with an abundance of good things in the Lord.