Day 82: The Good and the Bad

Read: Romans 16:19-23

My parents just got a new puppy. He is a sweet dog and for the most part, naturally behaves. Although he is a good dog, he is still just a puppy. He hasn’t been fully trained yet. He is in the process of learning. He’s learning that he can’t go to the bathroom inside, that, it’s bad to bite people. He is trying to learn that sitting on the couch is “bad,” and sitting on command is “good.” Little by little, our puppy is learning what is good and bad and to do what is good.  

In Romans 16:19-23, Paul address the churches in Rome giving them one final instruction and greeting. Paul instructs in verse 19, “ For your obedience is known to all so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.” He told the church that they need to know the difference between what is good and what is evil. Then, they need to live it out!

Like my parents’ new puppy we need to learn what is good and what is evil. And, after we know, we need to obey what is commanded of us. The Bible teaches us what is good and what is bad. Goodness comes from God, and God is no way evil. He commands us to do what is good, to be like Him. If we are to be true followers of Christ we must follow what he has exemplified and declared as good.

In this passage, Paul also assures them that God is with them, He gives them hope in Romans chapter 16 verse 20 that God will soon destroy evil. He will crush Satan underneath our feet. Our God is mighty and powerful.

Paul gives this final instruction and declaration of hope at the end of his letter because they are important. He wants the people of the Roman church to remember to follow and obey God above everything else. He wants them to remember that our God is stronger the Satan and the wickedness of our world.

As Christians, we need to remember these things. We need to be wise, to know the difference between good and evil. Then we need to obey it and trust that God is good. We need to trust that He is stronger than evil.

Are you actively striving to know and obey what God has declared as good? Take a moment and ask God to help you be obedient to him and know when something is wrong. Remember that we have hope against evil: our mighty God.