Examining Scripture:
“Be not overcome of evil,
but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:21
Evaluating Soil:
Christmas is a beautiful time of celebration that most of us look forward to. It’s one of the festive occasions we get to experience each year, and it can be filled with happy memories.
Sadly, many people aren’t able to enjoy their holidays because they are too overcome with the battles they’re facing. It’s hard to ignore evil when you’re being over-taken by it. None of us can deny its presence, prevalence, or constant threat to our hearts and homes today.
Experiencing Seasons:
I’m sitting alone in the quite of my living room looking at my Christmas decorations, listening to Christmas music, having a peaceful moment of quiet reflection, and wondering, “How?” How can I overcome the evil in this world, in my home, in our country, in our communities, and even in our churches? How can I overcome without being overcome?
To be transparently honest, my heart is hurting this year for the loss and hurt in my life, and in the lives of others I love, for the hatred spreading around the world, for the broken hearts and relationships that seem unfixable, for the people who don’t know that their Creator loves them, for the people trapped in addictions, and for all the children who are growing up in this deviant, disrespectful, and drama-filled world.
That is why I’m wondering. How can I stop the divisiveness and discouragement, caused by the destructive behaviors I see? How can I stop the hate, bitterness, meanness, and lack of forgiveness? What can I do? What gift of goodness do I have to offer others?
Then, it hit me. I have my home!
Embracing Solace:
What I do in, from, and through my home can provide some good. It could bring solace, not just for me, but to a hurting world. It could bring comfort and celebration to the sad, lonely, and struggling. The good deeds done, like keeping my home in order and making it spiritually sound, safe, and secure, could help others overcome evil instead of being overcome by it.
Enjoying Simplicity:
Evil separates us. It makes us lose hope and our Godly perspective of life. It causes unnecessary hardship and complicates the simplicity of a peaceful, celebratory life. Good prevents and removes many tragic complications.
Employing Solutions:
Evil, in the Romans 12 passage, is defined in the Greek as anything that is worthless, depraved, or causes injury. This can come in many ways and can affect us mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. They are the very things that ruin and wreck our lives. They can include:
- hateful words
- useless activities
- abusive attitudes or actions
- addictive and immoral behaviors
- unloving, unkind, and unforgiving interactions
These are not good behaviors and should be omitted from our hearts and homes. When God says that we’re to overcome evil with good, it means in any sense, and something that is beneficial.
Our homes are beneficial resources for standing against evil—inside our four walls or outside of them. When we invite God in, and follow His ways, we can counter evil with good.
The more light we shine; the less darkness can prevail over us. The good habits we incorporate into our homemaking can help us stand strong in our fight against these evils and give us more enjoyable reasons to celebrate the beauty of the season.
Bring It Home
How will you display God’s goodness in your home this Christmas?
Praying for you as we grow together,
Smiles, BRC
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