Soul Snack 8/138 ... Eluding Evil - B
His heart smarted, his fists were already clenched and his lips pursed. The deadly venom of wounding insult coursed across his spirit and soul yet again. He had already decided to return fire, his only decision now was to use his mouth or his muscles?
This is exactly what the evil one desires. For the follower of Jesus there is always another response.
I am unable to remove evil, but I can choose not to promote it. I can choose to elude it.
Jesus died to defeat the work of the devil. Only Jesus can remove evil, but I sure can choose not to propagate it.
Evil is to be escaped not escalated.
He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 1 John 3:8
Think for a moment. To not repay evil with evil is to rob satan - it is robbing the robber (Jn 10:10a). It is to render evil impotent. This then is true VICTORY. My attacker then has no fuel added to his attack. He too is rendered impotent. Evil has been prevented and not promoted.
I energise evil when I choose to repeat it. I enervate evil when I don't.
Jesus had the power to call upon legions of angels for His defense. He chose not to. He too chose to win by losing. He released forgiveness rather than retained the fight.
Only Jesus can remove evil, but I can render it powerless over me.
see also Soul Snack 8/10 ... Eluding Evil