Go for the good!

First of all, Happy 1 year Birthday to Lovely Branches Ministries! What an exciting year of growth and pruning. Both are healthy, but that's a whole other blog article in itself!. Today I want to focus on relationships because female relationships are part of the focus of our ministry.

Recently, I have been reading in Romans and a section of verses really stuck out to me about the way we are to live. That section ended with the verse Romans 12:21 which says, "Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good."

So let's face it. Relationships can be complicated and sometimes female relationships can be downright ugly. I remember high school days that ended in tears due to something a "friend" had said to me (or behind my back). What's your first response when someone has gossipped about you, told a hurtful lie, or stolen your boyfriend? ANGRY? REVENGE? POKE HER EYES OUT? But this section of verses tells us to live very oppositely and then commands us not to be swallowed up by evil, but get rid of evil with GOOD.

Sound puny? Only because you haven't tried it. There is power in doing what is good and right and walking in love. There is freedom in it, too.

Here's the MESSAGE version of these verses:
Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality. Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody. Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it." Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if [she's] thirsty, get [her] a drink. Your generosity will surprise [her] with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

What amazing advice for our relationships! Chew on this. Look at it in different versions and let me know the parts that might require more doing for you so I can pray along with you for extra grace!