The Word Says:
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Verse Thoughts:
The command to overcome evil with good is one of the most fundamental aspects of the Christian faith. While it was considered foolishness to the ancient world, followers of Jesus are called to weaponized love and goodness. It is encouraging first to know that God has given us a cause and a way to resist evil, and not be overcome by it. There is no evil that can overcome us. Jesus said the gates of Hades cannot stand against his church. This means that we are not to passively sit still like a bulwark against the onslaught of evil, but rather we are to take the fight to darkness, bringing the light with us. We are to storm the gates of hell with our weapons of warfare, which is goodness and love.
Practically, if someone is evil towards us, we are to return blessing. Step one is to forgive them. Step two is to bless and even give love to them, speaking and acting with kindness. First of all, this attitude will make us impervious, spiritually and emotionally, to evil. The goal of evil is to bring us down and turn us from God. If we forgive and bless our persecutors, then they fail in their goal. Secondly, this attitude will eventually drive back the evil, the darkness, right through the gates of hell. In all the best movies, the good guys eventually win, because that principle is hardwired into the creation. We know that eventually Jesus is going to return, and evil will finally be overcome once and for all. Evil is on borrowed time. Satan is already defeated, and while he still is dangerous, we in the Church have been charged with plundering his house. We are to do this with goodness and love.