A Message of Hope

But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.
Matthew 5: 39
            We are kidding ourselves if we do not believe in the idea of evil in the world today.  Evil is generally defined as the violation of a moral code that is embodied by the concept of God.  In other words, evil is doing the opposite of what God guides us to do.  Genesis 2 and 3 begins our struggle with the idea of good and evil.  By eating of the forbidden tree, people now understand the difference between good and evil (3:22).  We have no excuse in choosing one over the other.  Evil is disobedience to God. 
            Evil as a theoretical concept is palatable.  Evil on our doorstep is hard to deal with if we are to follow Jesus’ guidance.  First, the idea that we should not resist an evil person is not what our worldly selves want to do.  We want to fight against evil.  We want to strike back at evil.  We want to keep what God has given us and not give it up to an evil person. 
            Jesus, in this section of the Sermon on the Mount, tells us that is not the right way to deal with evil as His disciples.  We must begin to view everyone as a child of God and learn to help them by treating them that way (even if it hurts).  Evil is rampant in the world around us.  From theft and murder to lying and control issues, we see the embodiment of evil all around us in this lost world.  Our response to it is critical as we mature as Christians and complete our mission.
            We do not strike back at evil.  We do not fight for our stuff.  We welcome the opportunity to walk the extra mile with evil in order to show God’s love.  We gladly give the money God has blessed us with to those in need.  We do all these things because we are not evil, but good people.  1 Peter 2: 12 tells us that our example to the world is designed to help them “glorify God on the day he visits us.”  Jesus came to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10) and as his followers our mission is to do the same.  Today, let’s decide to become like our Savior who found us mired in evil and help the evil lost see His presence in the world through our lives.
Scripture:  Matthew 5: 38-42