When evil is being displayed, as believers who love what is good and hold to biblical Truth, it can be difficult to process evil in a positive way, especially when evil impacts us personally or those we love.
Our fallen nature wants to respond, sometimes with anger, and rejection of that evil.
God's Word reminds us
“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath"
Ephesians 4:26
This means its okay to be angry, but we need to deal with that anger, praying to God and not hold on to that anger lest it over take us, and may cause us to sin.
We should reject evil, and hold to what is good.
"The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate."
Proverbs 8:13
"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good."
Romans 12:9
We need to pray for those doing evil.
“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
29 To him who strikes you on the
one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold
your tunic either.
30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask
them back.
31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34 And if you lend
to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.
35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful."
Luke 6:27-36
When Jesus was crucified,
"Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do...."
Luke 23:34
When Stephen was stoned for his faith,
"And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on
God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 56 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep."
Acts 7:55-56
As difficult as it can be, we need to pray for those who practice evil. Pray that they repent and turn to Jesus for salvation. The blood of Jesus can wash away even the worst of sin. Anyone who repents and believes on Jesus can be saved. Saul who became Paul is a good example that anyone can come to Christ and be saved, even the worst sinner.
13 "although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did
it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
15 This
is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. "
1 Timothy 1:13-16
We must hate evil, because God hates evil.
But we need to pray for every sinner to seek The Lord in repentance for their sins, and that they accept Jesus as their Savior and be transformed in the renewal of their minds, that they may also hate what is evil, and receive the goodness and love of God in their hearts.
This is not my opinion. This is what The Word of God teaches us.
Let us pray for a flood of new believers to come to faith, even out of the worst of the worst, in the short time that is left before God releases His wrath on an unrepented world.
