“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

— Romans 12:21

Have you ever felt so mad at someone that you couldn’t see straight? In the midst of many conflicts, you can’t talk with the person who angered you, or else you’d end up saying something you know you shouldn’t. On the other hand, you can’t stop thinking about that person’s offense against you. So you end up replaying the situation over and over in your mind like a broken record.

I know the feeling, but I’ve learned through God’s Word a great truth that transforms such feelings into opportunities to share God’s love. This truth is to turn the other cheek. Jesus told us to return good for evil. When we first hear that, we think, “What? Did I miss something?” because we naturally respond to an offense by returning evil for evil—an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. In our humanness, we can’t fathom going the second mile, turning the other cheek, or doing good to those who hurt us. Yet doing such is the art of Christian forgiveness carried through to the end.

When you overcome evil with good, forgiving your enemy and even offering kindness in return, you will experience tremendous freedom. When we respond with good, we can’t help but win the battle. And we find ourselves invulnerable to evil.

Jesus is our perfect example of overcoming evil with good. When we were still sinners, having rebelled against Him, Christ showed His love to us. He went to the cross for us, taking our wrongs upon Himself. Christ asked His Father to forgive those who crucified Him. Then Jesus descended into Hell, conquered it, and rose victorious. When we respond with kindness and love, we triumph in grace and give glory to Jesus.

Do you need to forgive someone today? Overcome evil with good by offering forgiveness, love, and kindness to that person. Then watch as Jesus brings freedom and victory to you because of your obedience.

“He who has mastered the grace of forgiveness is
far more triumphant than he who has managed to
see that no wrong to him is gone unavenged.”
Lloyd d. Mattson