Topic: The Battle Against Evil Is Already Won [RICK WARREN Devotional 22 September 2022]
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The Battle Against Evil Is Already Won
BY RICK WARREN — SEPTEMBER 22, 2022
FROM ETERNAL REALITIES
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:21 (NIV)
When you’re faced with evil, don’t return it. Overcome it.
This is opposite of human nature and what the world condones. When somebody hurts you, you want to hurt them back, right? When somebody hits you, you want to hit them back. When somebody slanders you, you want to slander against them.
But God says that is not the way you’re going to win the battle against evil. Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (NIV).That is God’s way of winning the battle.
Jesus Christ came to Earth to show that you don’t destroy evil by retaliating; you destroy it by overcoming it with good.
The Bible says, “The Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8 NLT).Jesus came to obliterate evil. He came to wipe it out. Evil is going to end one day. It is not going to exist forever. One day God is going to close the books. He’s going to settle the score. He’s going to end history and take his family into eternity with him.
If you want to be on the winning side, you better get on God’s side because evil is going to lose. Evil wins a few battles here and there, but the outcome of the war has been predetermined.
Good and evil are not equal in force or competition. It may feel like evil is stronger and that evil is winning. But love is far stronger than evil. Kindness is far stronger than evil. Good is much greater than evil. Good will win the day a hundred times over evil.
In the end, God and his followers will win. Good will triumph over evil because God is love, and his love will last forever.
Jesus said, “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (Matthew 16:18 NLT).
You can use goodness to fight evil because this is God’s promise: You fight against evil with the confidence that God has already won the war. Evil is going to lose. Victory is assured!
Talk It Over
- In what ways does it feel like evil is winning in the world?
- How can you remind yourself of God’s promises when you are trying to overcome evil with good?
- What does it mean that God is building his church? How does that encourage you in the fight against evil?
There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ
Father, you promise that, if I believe in Jesus, I will be forgiven. I ask for that forgiveness now. I know that I am a sinner and that only you can cancel the record of all the things I’ve done wrong.
Jesus Christ, I believe that you died to pay for my sins. I believe that you then rose again, breaking the power of death so that I can have eternal life with you in heaven. Thank you for saving me. Thank you that I don’t have to earn, deserve, or work for my salvation. It is your gift of grace. All I have to do is accept it.
Today I turn from my sins and invite you to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my Lord and Savior.
I want to use the rest of my life to serve you. Thank you for loving me, saving me, and accepting me into your family. In your name I pray. Amen.
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