Romans 12:9,21 – Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (NIV)

Sienna, one of our Yorkshire terrier pups, is such a little cling-on. When we get home from work, she runs about madly, following us wherever we go, wrapping her front legs around one of our legs, clinging to us like some sort of living Saran Wrap® until she finally gets picked up. She's a gal who knows what she wants and knows how to go about getting it.

Likewise, as God's people, we, too, are to be cling-ons. We are to cling to what is good. The definition for the word "cling" is to adhere, be firmly attached, be dependent. "Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

The potential for evil clings to all of us, due to our inherent sinful nature. However, when we choose to cling to Christ, to be dependent upon Him for His guidance and direction — through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, and the wisdom of godly spiritual advisors — we can overcome evil with good. This can happen because, as the apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesians in chapter 3:16-19, we are strengthened out of Christ's glorious riches, with power through His Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. And being rooted and established in love, we may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Yes, when we cling to Christ in sincere love, we become infused with the fullness of love — sincere love — which clings to all we do and think and say, and which always overcomes evil with good.

Prayer: Father God, thank You so much for the opportunity to cling to Christ and the love He has for us. Thank You that out of His glorious riches, He matures us day by day as we adhere to Him and His Spirit. Bless us with hearts that are firmly attached to the desires of Christ's heart, that each and every one of us may not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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