We live in a world in which we encounter evil on a daily basis.  It can seem overwhelming at times as the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).  He will do all that he can to bring doubt, despair, and discouragement into your life.  The Apostle Paul encouraged the church at Rome with these words,

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  (Romans 12:21)

What does it mean to be overcome by evil?  When we sin, or when someone sins against us, we experience guilt or hurt.  If we commit the sin, our automatic response is usually guilt. If someone sins against us, we often feel hurt.  God enables us experience these two responses making us realize that something wrong has happened.

If we’re not trusting and applying God’s power to resolve that sin then our guilt or hurt may lead to a number of negative responses – we become overcome by evil.  The authors of The Cure enumerate some of the inevitable effects from our guilt or hurt,

Blame, fear, denial, anger, and their assorted sickly relatives. Something under our own roof begins to destroy us, and most of us are clueless about this chain reaction. We only know we have deep painful feelings, distorted, dysfunctional thoughts, and befuddling behaviors we feel the need to mask. Among the damaging behaviors resulting from unresolved sin:  We become highly sensitized to our own sin and judge the sin of others. We lose our objectivity in a crisis and become the issue. We hide our sinful behaviors and become vulnerable to more sin. We are unable to love or be loved. We become more susceptible to wrong life choices. We attempt to control others.” (The Cure, p. 37)

The good news is that you don’t need to be a victim but you can be a victor.  Your natural response may be to respond with defensiveness but you can respond with the grace of the Holy Spirit.  Our natural response is to lash back, but Solomon wisely writes,

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  (Proverbs 15:1)

Paul reveals that we do not need to be hostage to our feelings but we can overcome evil with good.  How can we do this?  The context of Romans chapter 12 reveals the answer.  Prayerfully read through the following verses and take a self-evaluation how you’re doing at putting these verses into practice.  The degree to which you’re fulfilling these verses is the degree to which you will overcome evil with good.

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Remember that God is for you.  You do not need to be overcome by evil, but you can overcome evil by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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