Posts Tagged ‘ Evil ’
Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:11, HCSB
God’s heart is for the oppressed, especially that all are oppressed by sin. When we focus too much on our sin and evil in the world, it is easy to be depressed, but focusing on Christ gives peace and hope.
Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
Romans 12:21, HCSB
Humanity tends toward evil, separating family and friends, but God came to us and conquered the evils of death, suffering, and separation through the cross. When we believe in Christ, He calls us His friends and empowers us to overcome evil, too.
See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.
1 Thessalonians 5:15, HCSB
We join God in His work of saving the world, and it looks like rewarding evil people with grace and love to win them over for Christ and His gospel.
Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.
James 5:13, CSB
We are in a spiritual war, and our prayers for each other and praises to God help us while pushing back against evil and demonic forces.
He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:4, CSB
God moves in His own time and His own ways, but He has told us how to overcome temptations, evil, and our desires: His Word. Trust that He will do what He has said. Trust in His Word.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
Ephesians 6:12, CSB
Christ is our example of love, and He demonstrated love by not lashing out against humans but against sin and satanic powers. We now love others and turn to Christ and His Word to combat evil.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.
2 Corinthians 12:9, CSB
God fights for us, and He calls us to join in the fight against sin, empowering us by His strength, even in and using our weaknesses.
Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
Romans 12:21, CSB
Because Christ has come, we are made new and empowered to do good. Because Christ is coming again, we help make the world new by overcoming evil with goodness in His power and grace.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5, ESV
The hope of Christ is that the long-awaited Messiah has come, pushing back the darkness of evil and showing us the path to God and out of sin and shame.
Looking at a daily devotional, I couldn’t help noticing that our American day of Tahnksgiving falls on the 333rd day of the year.
My mind immediately thought, “That’s funny. Our holiday is only half-evil,” going from the traditional understanding of “666” being the number of the Antichrist.
Naturally, that took my mind to Scripture:
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:15-21, ESV
The world is a crazy place with more sin than we can fathom being celebrated, yet we can come together in thankfulness for our Lord who is redeeming the world and will soon return in glory.
Let us encourage each other in Christ, especially on a day like Thanksgiving but also throughout the year. Enjoy times with each other as the Church, and love your family and friends.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good … even when the world is half evil.
Happy Thanksgiving.
a simple man of God 