"Overcome Evil with Good"
By James Ward

        Is there a parent or teacher in the entire history of mankind who hasn't heard the justification for a tiff between children? "He/she hit me first!" I surely said it to my mother; she probably said it to my grandmother; I know my children said it to me. It's so common as to appear natural. In fact, I'm pretty well convinced that if scientists put their mind to it, they could find a retaliation gene coded into our DNA.
        What a challenge, then, to run up against God's ban on personal vengeance: "Repay no one evil for evil" (Rom 12:17); Beloved, do not avenge yourselves" (v. 19); "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also" (Matt. 5:39). That's about as hard as it gets, right?
        Wrong! Let's not forget about Matthew 5:44: "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matt. 5:44). Or, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink" (Rom. 12:20 quoting Prov. 25:21). This is the practical way to "overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:21). So, God not only forbids us to retaliate against those who hurt us, he demands that we do positive good to them. Hard? Yes indeed. Impossible? No!
        IT'S BEEN DONE!
        God's word contains notable examples of those who not only refused to retaliate, but who found the grace to do good to their enemies. Who leaps to mind first? Who else but Jesus Christ. How much evil he suffered at the hands of his enemies: - lifelong rejection, betrayal, false accusations, mockery, vicious beatings, and ultimately, death by crucifixion. Yet, in his final moments, he prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Lk. 23:34). Aside from the preeminent example of Jesus Christ, there are others. Let's take them in biblical order.
        JOSEPH
        The eleventh son of Jacob is one of the outstanding characters of history. His elder brothers hated him, perhaps with some justification, and resolved to kill him. Dissuaded from this course of action by Reuben (and in his absence), the others sold Joseph to a band of Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt and sold him into slavery. Years later, those same brothers were fearful when they came under the power of Joseph, who had, by God's help, risen to a position of prominence in the Land of the Nile. They said, "Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him" (Gen. 50:15). But Joseph replied to them, "Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them" (Gen. 50:21). Power did not corrupt this man of integrity.
        AN UNNAMED HEBREW MAIDEN
        The book of 2 Kings, chapter 5, tells the story of the Syrian commander, Naaman, and how he was healed of leprosy by Elisha the prophet. It began in this fashion. "And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman's wife. Then she said to her mistress, 'If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy" (vv.2-3). What a marvelous young lady! Torn from her homeland, and perhaps her family, she sought to save the life of her captor.
        DAVID
        The young shepherd boy, with his deep faith in God, became the toast of Israel. And King Saul couldn't stand it, his heart was so filled with jealousy. Several times he tried to kill David. I Sam. 18:29 says, "So Saul became David's enemy continually." In fact, the king hounded his loyal servant into the Wilderness of En Gedi. On several occasions, David had opportunity to kill Saul, but instead spared his life. In fact, he was deeply remorseful that he even humiliated God's anointed by cutting off a corner of his robe. When the mercurial Saul became aware of David's sorrow, he "lifted up his voice and wept. Then he said to David: 'You are more righteous that I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil"' (I Sam. 24:17). Another brick in the character of the man after God's heart.
        STEPHEN
        This disciple of Christ was a mighty debater. When his opponents could not "resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke," they "stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes," had him arrested and brought before the Jewish Sanhedrin, and "set up false witnesses" to testify against him. His defense so infuriated the crowd that "they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him ... Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not charge them with this sin.' And when he had said this, he fell asleep" (Acts 7:57f, 60). This is an echo of Jesus from the cross; the disciple bore the gracious spirit of the Teacher.
        These examples stand for all time to remind us that loving our enemies is not beyond the capability of hearts transformed by the grace of God.
        If we find ourselves filled with hatred for people who hurt us, and if we are unable to "overcome evil with good," we need to return to square one and reexamine our "conversion." Either it wasn't genuine, or we've had a relapse.
From the LOST RIVER CHURCH bulletin, Bowling Green, KY.