Overcoming Evil with Good - September 11

Photo from National Parks Service

Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

September 11 is a date that lives in infamy for most Americans.  To some degree this is rightly so considering how many people lost their lives that day in NYC and considering also how many (more) people there were emotionally scarred for the rest of their lives.

But, as Christians, it seems to me that we should be able to rise above the hate while not falling into the folly of justifying the wicked.  In short, we should not be overcome of evil, but overcome it with good!

One verse that stands out in my mind in relation to Sept. 11 is Psalm 76:10, Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

This is an amazing verse.  How can the wrath of man praise the Lord?  We cannot always understand this, maybe seldom.  But, in a sense I think that sometimes we may have opportunity to help turn evil to good, or to the praise of the Lord.  Sept. 11 is one area where I can see this possibility.

Some might like to set this day aside for fasting and prayer for specific requests related to the day.  Others might like to use the day to do good to those who have suffered serious loss.  Perhaps it would be fitting to use this day to visit a Muslim area in this country and leave tracts or distribute Bibles where possible.  There are many options.

Years ago my grandparents worked with a missionary lady who had an interesting little thing she asked people to do to remember to pray for her.  She asked them when they happened to notice the clock reading 11:11 if they would take a moment to pray for her and her work.  I read this in her prayer letter once and it stuck in my mind.

Years later, after the September 11 debacle, I was thinking about that and different things, and the Lord reminded me of that request.  I purposed in my heart that whenever I saw the clock read 9:11 (and at times other instances of 911) I would take a few moments to pray that more Muslims would hear the Gospel and understand their need of salvation and that more Christian Arabs would realize the need to stop using the name “Allah” for the true God.  It only takes a few seconds, and I don’t even usually bow my head and close my eyes but just talk to the Lord from my heart.

Maybe you can think of some other ways that you can turn the wrath of man that was so vividly displayed on that day into praise of God Almighty.  I encourage you to find some way to overcome evil with good to the glory of the Lord!  It is much more profitable than wallowing in the sordid memories and angst that this date can call up.

2Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)