“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
(Romans 12:21, NKJV)
Reckless words pierce like a sword. (Prov. 12:18) How Satan loves to use those closest to us to inflict the greatest pain. My daughter’s words played over and over again in my mind as my heart broke, tears fell, and I tried to hold it together. It was a death blow, severing a relationship that had been hanging by a thread, rejection of 33 years of love and faithfulness. Now what? Was it over? How do I respond?
Gentle, the Holy Spirit pointed me to Jesus. What must He have thought gasping for breath on the cross, beaten beyond recognition, listening to the reckless words of the crowd? “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” “He saved others, but He can’t save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him come down now from the cross, and will believe in Him. He trusts in God; let God deliver Him now, if He desires Him.” (Matt. 27:42-43) The One who loved them perfectly, healed their diseases, forgave their sin, raised their dead, satisfied them with good, cast out their demons, and revealed the heart of the Father was now despised and rejected, bloodied and beaten beyond recognition, and condemned to die.
How did Jesus respond to the hatred, mocking, false accusations, betrayal, abandonment, and dishonor? “When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly.” (II Peter 2:23) “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds we have been healed.” (I Peter 2:23-24) “For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame.” (Hebr. 12:2) Denying Himself and lifting His soul to His Father, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
As they treated Him, so will they treat me. I am called to share in His sufferings, to lay down my life, to love as He has loved me, and love not my life unto death (Phil. 1:29; John13:34; Rev. 12:11). At times, it may be bloody. A sword may pierce my heart. Those I trust may betray me and abandon me. Yet, my hope is this: just as surely as resurrection followed crucifixion, so after I have suffered a little while, the God of all grace who has called me to His eternal glory in Christ will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish me (I Peter 5:10). He judges justly. He will have the last word. His divine power has given me everything I need for life and godliness through my knowledge of Him (II Peter 1:3). He has made me more than a conqueror (Rom. 8:37). His grace is sufficient. His power is made perfect in my weakness. (II Cor. 12:9) He is able to make all grace abound to me so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, I may abound in every good work. (II Cor. 9:8-9) I am no longer a slave to my carnal nature, reacting in the flesh. I am free and empowered to respond in His Spirit. When I die to self and allow the fruit of the Spirit to flow freely through me, atmospheres shift, the kingdom of God advances, and my enemy is defeated.
Death blows will come, but they don’t have to defeat me. I don’t have to take the enemy’s bait. I can rise above the earthly battle and wage war in the spirit realm. The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in me, and my God is able to do inestimably more than I ask or imagine through that power at work in me (Eph. 3:20). I choose to fix my eyes on Jesus, deny myself, take up my cross, and follow the only One who can bring life from dead-end situations. I choose to overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21), to love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me (Matt. 5:44). I choose to bear His image, manifest His likeness, and bring Him glory.
“Your Kingdom come; Your will be done in this situation, Father. Have Your way. I choose to deny myself and forgive. I choose to let Your love flow through me and cover a multitude of sins. Let my daughter see Christ in me.”
Lisa Moore