Daily Bread 3-15-17
Romans 12:21
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
ref. - 1P 2:21 - For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
After all that we've been through, after all that has been removed from our hearts and replaced with God's forgiveness, we must not return to where we came from. We must not return to the world after we have claimed Spiritual gifts. After receiving the greatest gift known to man, salvation, we will face many bumps in the road. The world will nearly disagree with everything that we have received. The world will nearly disagree with all the new rules and the Gospel that we shape and mold our lives after. Once we have achieved and received gifts from God there is no greater thing on the enemies' mind than to put something in our ways to get us to set that gift down. This being because the enemy knows that if we achieve goodness in Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, the Spirit within us is stronger than the spirit that is within him. And this warning is not for those trying to find redemption as they are already overcome with evil, but it is for those who are already claiming salvation and for those who believe. If something in our lives occurs that requires our judgment and our decision we can either follow the teaching of Christ and be obedient to it, confirming our faith. Or, we can go back into the evils of the world and it's ways and thereby show our lack of faith. If we go back, the path that we leave behind us will be the path of the enemy, not of the fruits of the spirit. It will be destruction and persecution, rather than peace and love, patience and long-suffering. If we follow Christ, he will take care of our needs and our pathway will be the way that the scripture speaks about in Christ. He may not supply for us in the way that our carnal minds think he should, but if we stand in faith, we will realize that he has a better way of doing things. After all, isn't this why we came to him in the first place? Someone came to us and introduced us to a savior that had a better way. We entrusted our complete lives to him to be taken from the life that we once had and were born again. We were delivered from the judgment and condemnation of the world and it was not only an easier way but a better way for us to lead our lives. So, why, if we have enjoyed and been blessed in this way, do we let the things that once destroyed us overcome us? Why do we let evil take over once again. Maybe it is because we have not made the transformation as completely as we have been led to believe or made ourselves to believe. Maybe the Spirit has not made witness in our hearts as of yet but we are caught up in the activity and the traditions that others have followed. The only way that we are going to ever be able to fulfill this instruction in that we must not be overcome by evil, but that we can overcome evil with good, is to have the Spirit of the most High dwelling within us. So today, and every day, know that the Spirit of God within us will allow us to overcome evil and be triumphant over the enemy! Don't return to the muddy, mirky, mire that you came from. You are a child of the King! You are precious! You are chosen! You are washed in the blood of the lamb and redeemed! We have been made more than conquerors in Christ Jesus!! So don't let the dog get you down, remember that the dog doesn't have power over you while you are in the arms of the great Shepherd!! Overcome!!! Have a great day!!!