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Narrative: Welcome to Insights on Healing a weekly podcast. Today’s Episode is “Overcome Evil with Good” You will learn how to renew your mind and face difficult situations.
I am Joan M. Blake, author, and I am your host. Insights on Healing Podcast includes the reading of scripture, praying for my audience, reading from one of my books, or telling stories of how individuals through the healing power of God, found purpose in their lives.
I pray as you listen to this episode, that God would bless you and provide you with hope that you have been longing for. Today’s podcast is taken from the book of Romans 12: 1-21. I am reading from the NIV version of the Bible.
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Humble Service in the Body of Christ
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Love in Action
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e]
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Reflection: In this passage of Scripture, we are asked to focus on being transformed by renewing our minds and becoming people who God has called us to be, to humble ourselves and not think of ourselves as better than others. We all have different gifts and we are to walk in those giftings, and love as never before, bless your enemies and those who have done you wrong and not repay evil for evil, but overcome evil with good.
Prayer: Father, I thank you that you are almighty, and you continue to rule over the nations. Thank you that you give each of us a unique gift to use for your glory, that you are calling us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that you are calling us to love each other and not to feel better than one another and not to pay evil for evil. I pray against gun violence in our nation, the Pandemic, and the war in Ukraine and ask for your help. I pray that you will provide for those who are in need. May those who listen to this message receive the word of God and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thank you for listening to Insights on “Healing” Podcast. If you liked the Podcast, please be sure to click the subscribe button on my website at joanmblake.com. You can also subscribe wherever you listen to your podcast. May God bless and keep you in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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