Do Only What is Good

Each day, in so many different ways, we have a profound choice to make: either to do good or not. It's a tough one. How much easier would it be to take the low road rather than the high one; to go with selfishness, anger, dishonesty, revenge, rather than a genuine love for others and a desire to do good? In the 17th century, Queen Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba (present-day Angola) ruled during a brutal time of slave raids and colonial conquest. Portuguese invaders enslaved her people. Betrayal came from every side. It would've been easy to execute vengeance, but Nzinga negotiated freedom for captives, sheltered runaway slaves, and even converted to Christianity to forge peace. Though a warrior, a fighter, she chose mercy over revenge. In a world where might makes right, she believed nevertheless that right could still be mightier. When we're confronted with evil, our most natural response is hatred, punishment, revenge, isn't it?  And yet, intuitively, we know that Queen Nzinga had it right. Here's God's take: Romans 12:9 Your love must be real. Hate what is evil. Do only what is good. Three short sentences that pack so much power. When you and I approach tough situations with a genuine love, two things happen. First, out of that love, comes the courage to stand firm against evil without hating the people who perpetrate it. Second, we end up doing what's right, difficult though that choice may be. And that godly goodness, born out of genuine love and a hatred of evil, changes everything. Perhaps we do live in a world where might makes right. But the truth is that doing what's right is mightier still! Your love must be real. Hate what is evil. Do only what is good.