SABBATH FRAGRANCES
«Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good» (Romans 12:21).
Friday afternoons were especially tiresome. And that Friday, with sprained left ankle, a backpack filled with books, a two-gallon water jug, and the whole week’s weariness, I was walking along in my daily struggle against the typical wind of the city where I was canvassing. Everything was arid and there were only a couple of dry bushes along the sort of sidewalk that led to my house, in addition to a lot of litter.
However, there was something that always caught my attention: in the middle of all the bags and lifeless plants, there was a little tree courageously standing upright, providing a little greenery to the scenery. There was a little mound of dirt around its trunk, which was trying to grow in spite of the unfavorable climate.
That Friday I discovered the reason for that neatness.
Struggling against the wind like I was, a man with a shovel and lots of love, cared for, pruned and watered that little tree. I had to stop and thank him for what he was doing and his reply has forever remained in my mind, «I know this place is ugly, but this little parcel of land is mine and I’m going to care for it. If I do my best in the little bit that’s mine, it makes a difference. »
Sometimes we think that by simply not doing evil we can rest peacefully. But that’s not enough in this world. It’s an ugly place, even though God made it beautiful.
It’s not enough not to do evil things. We have a parcel of land, a temple to care for, a mission to accomplish. And action is needed to do that, not simply the passiveness of not doing evil. In order to overcome evil, we need to do good, to fill in the empty spaces, the «idle» times with good things and use productive times precisely to do good. Only then can we be sure that we’re taking care of ourselves, and make a difference even if it’s in the sidewalk wherever we may be.
A small action today can lead to endless good actions tomorrow, in the little parcel of land you’ve been assigned. Defend it! God gave it to you and He’ll ask you to give account of it.
Let’s overcome evil today…by doing good.
#YouthDevotional
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Daily Devotions for Youth 2021
«TAGS TO MAKE YOU THINK
BY: CAROLINA RAMOS»
Collaborators: Misael Morillo & Angelica Cuate
