Overcome evil with good - 6 February 2024
By Benescke Janse van Rensburg
Um(Imi)bhalo weBhayibheli
1 kaJohane 3
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing for more than 700 days. At the beginning of the year, Russia accidentally bombed one of its own villages, Petropavlovka, in the Voronezh region near Ukraine. It was not the first time Russia mistakenly launched an attack on its own territory. In April, last year, a Russian warplane accidentally dropped a bomb on its own city, Belgorod, near the border with Ukraine, causing an explosion.
This is what happens during war – mistakes occur. The same happens in our lives. When someone hurts us, gossips about us or inflicts harm upon us, we tend to feel that we have every right to retaliate, to hurt back and to pay our enemy for what he or she has done to us. The danger with this “payback” is that things can go south and, in the end, we may cause more harm to ourselves than to the enemy.
In 1 Peter 3:9, we read: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because you were called to inherit a blessing.” Also, in Romans 12:17,19, we read: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone … Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
Do you feel like you want to repay evil with evil? Let’s leave the judgement to God and ask him to fill us with his peace that surpasses all understanding. This way, you may save yourself from harm that you might regret later. God bless.
Prayer: Father God, thank you very much for being in control of my life. Today, I bring the situation to you (mention what is bothering you). Please help me not to repay evil with evil, but to overcome evil with good. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
