Defeating evil
The 3rd Sunday after Pentecost
Don’t be afraid! I will take care of you and your children.” After Joseph said this, his brothers felt much better. ~ Genesis 50:21b
Don’t be defeated by evil, but defeat evil with good. ~ Romans 12:21 (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
Evil is defeated when we act graciously toward those who have harmed us.
PRAYER:
Gracious Father, thank you for taking care of us, even though we don't deserve it. You are full of grace. I'm inclined to hold onto grudges when people are mean to me. Save me from that way of acting and thinking.
I want to be the person who defeats evil with good -- following in the footsteps of Jesus my Savior. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
