The Cling-on
Romans 12: 9 & 21 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is
good. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. NIV
Sienna one of our Yorkshire terrier pups is such a little cling-on. When we get
home from work she runs about madly following us wherever we go wrapping her
front legs around one of our legs, clinging to us like some sort of living Saran
wrap until she finally gets picked up. She’s a gal who knows what she wants and
knows how to go about getting it.
Likewise as God’s people we too are to be cling-ons. We are to cling to what is
good. The definition for the word cling is to adhere, be firmly attached; be
dependent. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good.
The potential for evil clings to all of us, due to our inherent sinful nature.
However, when we choose to cling, to be dependent upon Christ, for His guidance
and direction through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures and the
wisdom of godly spiritual advisors, we overcome evil with good. We overcome evil
with good because as the apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesians in chapter
3:16-19, we are strengthened out of Christ’s glorious riches, with power through
his Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through
faith. And being rooted and established in love, we may have power, together
with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of
Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that we may be filled to
the measure of all the fullness of God.
Yes, when we cling to Christ in sincere love, we become infused with the
fullness of love; sincere love which clings to all we do and think and say and
always overcomes evil with good.
Prayer: Father God thank you so much for the opportunity to cling to Christ and
the love he has for us. Thank you that out of his glorious riches he matures us
day by day as we adhere to him and his spirit. Bless us with hearts that are
firmly attached to the desires of Christ’s heart that each and every one of us
may not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. In Jesus’ name we
pray. Amen.
Lynne Phipps
lynnephipps@hotmail.com
Atlin, BC