Romans 12:21, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Look at the world around you. There is plenty of evil, isn’t there? Do you ever feel like evil is bringing you down or even taking you out? Does it ever seem like you are being overcome by it? True Christians, according to Paul, can live IN IT without being overcome by it. How? By clinging to the God who is light shining in the darkness. The darkness cannot overcome Him (John 1:5).
Rooting ourselves in the gospel gives us power. Our wicked hearts naturally lean toward evil and sinful things. However, we have a God who paid it all for us. He empowers us, by His grace, to change and live differently. Continually treasuring the cross of Jesus Christ keeps us from evil. It also empowers us to triumph over evil. We can overcome evil with good.
We have good in Christ. We have His good if our faith is in Him. Evil can have its way with the world, but It cannot have its way with the Christian! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead, completely dominating Satan and his evil schemes, lives in us (Romans 8:11). That power is what enables us to overcome evil with good.
