Bible Reading: Psalm 96-98; Romans 12.
Memory Verse: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21 (KJV)
A group of twelve Missionaries in Nigeria left for the middle belt of the country on their mission assignment in June this year. On their way, some terrorists waylayed them, stopped their vehicle and kidnapped them. Then they took them to the inner forest without water or food. They took them to a section with a lot of bees but noticed that they were not stinged by the bees, then they tried to cut the toe of one of them with a cutlass and they saw the cutlass did not cut him though it left a mark!
Earlier, they shot at their vehicle several bullets and saw that the bullet did not hit any of the twelve. After about two weeks in the forest, the terrorists decided to let the missionaries go as they could not understand why all their attacks did not affect them. They returned their phones to them and asked the missionaries to pray for them. All through the ordeal, the leader of the group said the terrorists were asking them for their identity and she told them they were missionaries.
The interesting thing the leader did after giving the testimony is request that we should pray for them to repent and give their lives to Christ. Not to call fire from heaven to consume them! Because the Lord said as part of his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:44 (KJV), “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” That is what God expects of us as Christians which is why Apostle Paul also said in Romans 12:19 (KJV), “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Let the Lord who understands wholly the circumstances of each occurrence take the final decision. Let’s live like our Lord and in accordance with the way he enjoined us to.
When you curse your enemy how do you show that your God is love? When anyone does any evil or wickedness to you, do not retaliate but help him in times of his own need, that way you will be showing him that you are a disciple and will thus be overcoming evil with your good. That’s what is stated in Romans 12:21 (KJV), “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Action Plan: Make a decision to return good deeds for evil people do to you.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero