WISDOM FOR LIVING DEVOTIONAL
DECEMBER 12, 2020
TOPIC: DON’T BE OVERWHELMED BY THE EVIL IN SOCIETY
BY T. O. BANSO
“Help, O LORD, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth! Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and insincere hearts” (Psalm 12:1-2 New Living Translation).
The rottenness of the society and the pervasiveness of wickedness have a tendency to frustrate and depress the godly. When the godly people look around and find evil in places they had expected to see righteousness, there is a tendency to feel lonely and wonder if they can make any impact a all.
David was in such a condition, he cried, “Help, O LORD, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth! Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and insincere hearts” (Psalm 12:1-2 New Living Translation). He concluded that the faithful had disappeared because evil-doers were in the majority.
The prophet Micah raised the same alarm in Micah 7:2: “The faithful man has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net” (New King James Version).
In the same vein, the prophet Isaiah said, “No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; they conceive evil and bring forth iniquity” (Isaiah 59:4 New King James Version)
In his days, the prophet Elijah said he was the only prophet of God remaining and Jezebel was seeking to kill him. Depression set in and he asked God to kill him. But God later corrected him that he was not the only true prophet remaining; He had 7,000 others in Israel who had not bowed down to idols (1 Kings 19:4, 14, 18).
When it seems as if everybody has compromised or forsaken God, remember that God will always have a remnant. In the days of Noah, they were only eight (2 Peter 2:5). In the time of Lot, God couldn’t find ten righteous people in Sodom so as to change his mind and not destroy the city. Only Lot and his family comprising his wife and two daughters were saved. However, his wife became a pillar of salt because she looked back in disobedience to the angels’ instruction as they fled from Sodom (Genesis 19:12-26).
Never be overwhelmed, overpowered, or overcome by the widespread evil or sin anywhere you are or in your generation. Jesus says, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12 New King James Version). The New Living Translation presents the verse thus: “Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.” Don’t let your love grow cold because of sin everywhere. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37, 39).
Don’t give up or follow the multitude to the evil (Exodus 23:2). Stand for the truth; stand for God. Stand up, stand up for Jesus. Don’t be discouraged. You’re not alone. God will always have a remnant – you may not be aware of them.
Even if you’ll be the last man standing, hold for forth for Jesus. Wherefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand (Ephesians 6:13). You may not be able to beat the evil-doers, but don’t join them. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21 New King James Version). The New Living Translation says, “Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.” Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3b).
Refuse to be depressed, overcome, or overpowered by the sight of sin and evil everywhere. It won’t last forever. Evil people will be punished (Proverbs 11:21). God will judge evil one day. He is the Judge of all the earth (Genesis 18:25). Ecclesiastes 12:14 says, “God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad” (New Living Translation). God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ (Romans 2:16). Don’t be overwhelmed by the evil in society.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The LORD be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help me to live a life of obedience to God. Let my love not grow cold because of sin that is rampant everywhere. Father, I receive grace to stand and keep standing for You in the midst of sins and evil all around me.
(For over 300 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
