Romans 12: Overcoming Evil

Hey everybody. My name is Dakota, from the blog A Look at Life from a Deerstand. Joshua, the person whose posts you're used to reading here, has been kind enough to ask me to write a guest blog while he is away and, if you don't mind, I'd like for us to focus for a few moments on one of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible: Romans 12.

I guess the reason I love this chapter so much is because it touches on so many important topics. It speaks of a Christian's proper relationship to God and to the world (v.1-2), the necessity of humility in the life of a believer (v. 3), how the body of Christ functions (v. 4-8), and countless other subjects that are very relevant in today's day and age. Despite the fact that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God (II Timothy 3:16), it seems that Romans 12 has always be exceedingly precious to God's people. And rightfully so. Whether you are battling a desire to get revenge, laziness, or depression, you can find what you need in these 21 verses.

But I guess the verse that jumps out at me the most in this entire chapter would have to be verse 21. Paul closes this portion of his letter with the words: "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." You see, it's not enough to simply abstain from the evil things of this world. Yes, David told us in Psalm 1:1 not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful; but he went on to say in verse 2 that we should find our delight in God's precious Word, and to meditate therein continually. What that means is that fleeing evil things is not enough; we must also pursue righteousness!

Are you doing as Paul admonishes us and "overcoming evil with good", or do you spend all of your time avoiding the sin, yet doing nothing that truly advances the kingdom of God? If the latter description fits you best, then lets change that today. No, not tomorrow. Today! There is no better way to use the day with which you have been blessed than to make an intentional effort to glorify God with your life, for as Paul said in another Scripture, "...we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)