Overcome!

Overcome!

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

The Inspiration:

Again, we read one of Paul's letters to one of the churches he had been privileged to be a part of. A bit of his own history too features in some of these letters, and we see that across all the letters to the churches in Phiippi, Colosse and Ephesus, among others. One quick lesson from the life of Paul is that the past can be used by God to do amazing things in the present and the future. God is able to take that which I call a mess and turn it into a message. He is able to take broken and rejected pottery and turn these into beautiful pieces. However, as amazing as God is when it comes to the display of power and might, He respects my decision. He will give me all that I need for life and Godliness, but I must come to Him in total surrender. I cannot hold on to my own wisdom, strength and influence and still lay claim to God's help. This is the thrust of today's verse.

The Contention:

When you see the word 'overcome', it portrays a picture of a war and victory. Evil is so powerful because it is backed up by the prince of this world who has been given such power due to the influence of sin. It is a war because both God and the devil are in contention for the control of the hearts and lives of men. It is a fight, whether I recognise it as such or not. In light of the above, you may ask where you fit. Actually, I have the power to decide who wins in my own life. I have the power to decide who is in charge. This is why the verse above enjoins me not to be overcome by evil. Evil will fight as best as it knows how to; it is backed up by the power of sin, which all of us were subject to from birth, but through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the power of sin has been broken and the power to live above sin released to all men. If I take advantage of this new power, sin has no control or influence over me. 

The Conclusion:

Therefore, God also has power. That is why evil does not have the last say. In order to overcome sin, I need the help of the One who has been able to defeat sin and the devil. In order to overcome, I need the right tools provided by the One who overcame. These tools are founded upon faith in Christ, and then sustained by the practices of the new relationship with Christ. I read his word on a regular basis; I speak with him on a regular basis and I fellowship with others of like minds on a regular basis too. This is how I grow in my knowledge and understanding of what good is. Overcoming evil is not an overnight sensation, but the result of daily commitment to living right. God will supply the grace; I have to depend on Him on a regular basis. Are you? Does God own and hold your heart? God's time of favour is here.