Daily Devotion for May 25, 2025

Devotion:

For an audio version of this devotion, click here.

Read Romans 12:1-2, 21.

I have shared with you before that this is a foundational chapter of the Bible for me. It offers what it looks like to live the way of Jesus Christ. Paul’s letter to the Romans is seen by many as the best and highest of his teaching and this chapter begins the portion of the letter where he states what it looks like to put our beliefs into action.

There is a lot of core teaching in just the first two verses and the last verse. To live our life for Jesus Christ is to give ourselves as “a living sacrifice” to God. That’s what it means to worship God all the time and to be totally committed to our Lord. And by allowing the Holy Spirit to renew our mind, we will always be seeking to know and do God’s will. That’s what Jesus taught us to seek with his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Then finally, it is constantly a challenge to not let the forces of evil control how we live our life. We tend to want to fight evil with evil (or “a tooth for a tooth” as we looked at yesterday). But as the people of Christ, we are called to “overcome evil with good.”

No, that is not easy. In fact, I am convinced it is impossible on our own. That’s why we need a higher power than ourselves living in us, One who told his disciples “I have overcome the world.” Jesus Christ showed us how to overcome evil with good. And he is willing and able to help you do the same.

Personal Worship Option:

Pray this prayer or one in your own words: Holy God, I thank you for the power and guidance you offer for my life. I seek to be your agent in the ongoing battle to “overcome evil with good.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.