Devotion for Romans 12:21

     Hi everyone!  It has been a while.  Recently, I started writing devotions again.  I thought I would share with you my latest devotion.  Please, feel free to let me know what you think.  I do appreciate any and all feedback.  Thank you.  God bless!  <3



  “Be not overcome of evil, but               overcome evil with good.”
                                              Romans 12:21 (KJV)
 
     There is so much evil and unkindness in the world today.  It is tempting to push back when someone pushes you, hurt back when someone hurts you.  Sometimes our emotions get the better of us and that is exactly what we do.  We strike back.  Or, if we have been hurt time and time again, we might try playing the bully and hurting others before they get a chance to hurt us.
     However, we are called to replace that hurt with kindness.  We are called to remember our ultimate role model, Jesus, and treat people the way he did.  Jesus never struck anyone. He always showed kindness to others, even as others were not kind to him.  Jesus, the Son of God, in the form of man, taught us how to treat others and how to overcome evil.
     There may be many reasons for this request.  First of all, who wants more violence or evil in the world?  If we can replace evil or overcome it with good, that is wonderful.  The world will be a better place.  Yet, it goes beyond that.  We want to be saved.  We want to spend everlasting life with God.  We want to honor and thank God for saving us, so we want to be as like Jesus as we possibly can.  This is one way to show it.  Although, I think it even goes further than that.  I think we are called to overcome evil with good, so that others can see Jesus’ example and God within us, so that they can desire to do the same.
     I think it is important to realize that what we do, say, and believe have a rippling effect to many others.  We might not even know all those that an action or inaction may effect.  We are called to send out a rippling of prayer, encouragement, kindness, understanding, and love to others.
 
Heavenly Father,
     Thank you for showing me how to act, feel, pray, give, serve, and love through the example of your Son, Jesus.  Help me to follow his holy example and overcome evil with good.  Help me to turn the other cheek on the evil that is done to me and to others.  Give me the courage and knowledge to be a role model of your love and your word in all that I do.  I ask you this through your Son, Jesus.  Amen.

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