Evil seems to come at us from everywhere, sometimes, even from those closest to us. Yet, we’re commanded to overcome evil, not using the world’s tactics and not what seems right to us. God has given us a much more powerful weapon to overcome evil. Read about three women who overcame evil in the most unlikely ways.
We’ll also talk about what it means to have a steadfast heart and how doing so can help us get through the most difficult circumstances in our lives.
Today’s Readings:
Isaiah 29
Psalm 108.1-6
Proverbs 25.21-22
2 Corinthians 11.1-15
The Power to Overcome Evil
Proverbs 25.21-22:
Three Stories
Jeannie and Sue were the only two women working at a job that was hard enough without Sue’s constant antagonism. What made it worse was that, as far as Jeannie knew, she had never done anything to deserve Sue’s hatred.
The cheating began just a few months into their marriage. Mary had cried, yelled, spied on him, and threatened to leave. Each time Joe would tell her he was sorry and promise to break off the latest affair. But before long, she would overhear another conversation, someone would call and hang up, or Joe would stay out all night and she’d know.
Karen’s husband worked hard. He came home every night. He paid the bills. But weekends were a nightmare. Before the sun had set on Friday, Bill was well into a bottle of bourbon and the more he drank, the angrier he got.
Jeannie’s Story
Each workday Jeannie determined to be kind to Sue, in spite of her cursing and cheap shots. But there were days when she went home in tears and cried out to God for another job.
Then one day after a particularly angry outburst, Sue stopped and just stared at Jeannie. “What is wrong with you? Every day you come back and treat me right no matter what I say or do!”
What followed were tears, but this time they were Sue’s and not Jeannie’s, as she poured out a story of heartbreak and abuse. Eventually, she accepted an invitation to attend church with Jeannie where she found the grace to let God heal her heart.
Mary’s Story
Ten or so years into their tumultuous marriage, Mary signed up to take a class at the local community college. One of her instructors, a believer, took an interest in her and, eventually, helped her come to know the Lord.
Mary started going to Bible studies, learning what it meant to be a godly wife, and one day she showed up at the Biblical Counseling Center where my husband and I ministered. She learned about prayer, forgiveness, and God’s grace. She decided that while she had biblical grounds for divorce, she wanted to stay in her marriage and show her husband God’s love.
It didn’t happen overnight, but the change in Mary eventually encouraged her husband to come to church with her where he, too, came to know her Savior and with God’s help changed his life.
Karen’s Story
One weekend Karen prayed in their bedroom while Bill smashed things in another room. By the time he came into the bedroom, he was angrier than she had ever seen him. And this time he wasn’t just angry in general, he was angry at her. He started accusing her of talking to another man. Nothing she said made any difference. Soon he was threatening to leave and give her nothing.
Finally, she just looked at him and said, “I’m not worried about me. I’m worried about you, Bill. God will take care of me.”
Bill sat there for a long time, before he asked, “Do you think God can help somebody like me?” That was over 20 years ago. Bill eventually opened his heart to the gospel and God saved and changed him.
Note: I’m not recommending that any woman should stay in a situation where her health or safety is at risk or her children are in danger.
These women prayed. They forgave. They walked in love and they demonstrated God’s patience and forgiveness. Though none of them did it perfectly, they had trust in a Perfect Savior.
Yet, we forget or perhaps have never understood that God has given all of us the same powerful weapons for overcoming evil. What exactly are those weapons?
Overcoming Evil
When we’re sinned against, the temptation is to fight back with anger, bitterness, gossip, the silent treatment, and dozens of other sinful responses. But those are not the weapons God has commanded and empowered.
Today’s passage says:
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
Those are coals of conviction. Love and kindness can soften the hardest hearts. But no matter how the other person responds, God has commanded us to do good to them. And the promise that follows is, “the Lord will reward you.” Paul quoted this passage in Romans 12 when he said:
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
We are not to be overcome by evil. In fact, we are commanded to overcome it! And how do we overcome evil?—with good!
Even When It’s Not a Storybook Ending
Not every story ends like Jeannie’s, Mary’s, or Karen’s but God honors and blesses us when we take Him at His Word and live obediently.
Sometimes that means changing jobs while we continue to pray for a former co-worker. Sometimes we must call the police and allow God to use the consequences of sinful, illegal behavior while we continue to pray for and forgive an abusive husband. Loving and overcoming evil with good doesn’t always mean the removal of all consequences, but our heart attitude is to be one of love, grace, and forgiveness.
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5.10). He gave us what we needed, not what we deserved. He gave us His grace. Doing good, loving those who are undeserving should be our response to His love and grace (Matt. 5.43-45).
The love of God is the most powerful force in the world. And He intends for those of us who have experienced His love to bend it out onto others. And when we step out in faith and obedience, He gives us the power to overcome evil with good.
Today’s Other Readings:
Isaiah 29:
He Wants Your Heart!
Verse 13 from today’s reading:
Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men.
God is not impressed with our “praise-the-Lords,” our Christian yard signs, or our involvement in religious activities. Neither is He impressed with our Bible knowledge or our pious-sounding prayers.
Many of those things are good. We should have an attitude of praise toward God. We should be willing to proclaim our faith. And we should be faithful to learn more about God’s Word and spend time with Him in prayer. But none of that matters to Him unless He first has our hearts.
Psalm 108.1-6:
The God Who Loves, Sees, Provides & More
This psalm is actually a song of praise. It begins “O God, my heart is steadfast …” The word “steadfast” means to be stable or fixed or to be in an upright state. We can praise Him no matter what the circumstances if our hearts are properly fixed on Him.
But that doesn’t just happen. We must purposely choose to focus on and meditate on His truths. We must not allow our circumstances to consume our thoughts and attitudes. Instead, we must let God’s Word be the lens through which we view our circumstances, beginning with a proper understanding of who God is.
In what area are you struggling to keep your heart steadfast or fixed on Him? Have your circumstances caused you to doubt God’s love or, at least, His love for you?
If so, take some time to get to know God better. Meditate on who He is. Learn about His essential character.
You might go to Bible Gateway, a free online concordance, or use another concordance to look up keywords. Or get a book about the attributes of God like It’s Not Fair! by Wayne Mack, The Attributes of God by A.W. Pink, or None Like Him by Jen Wilkin.
2 Corinthians 11.1-15:
Since this post is already long, I’m going to wait and comment on this passage in tomorrow’s post.
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we will look at the cost of turning our backs on God, the 5 reasons God allows thorns in our lives, and discuss the all-important question, “Is your faith genuine?”
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our YouTube channel.
If this post spoke to you, I would love it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.
And if you don’t already have a copy, you might want to purchase a copy of my eBook, 10 Benefits of Keeping a Spiritual Journal. It’s available on Kindle or in paperback (the paperback has 31 days of blank journaling pages with prompts to help you get started).
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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