“Do not be overcome by evil . . . .” We read that when Jesus was reviled, He did not revile in return. 1 Pet. 2:23. If it wasn’t a temptation for Jesus to revile in return, then it wasn’t a victory either for Him not to revile again. Heb. 2:18. The person who reviled Jesus was evil, and if Jesus had reviled him in return, He would have been overcome by evil, with the result that both of them would have been evil. Then Satan would have gained a tremendous victory. However, Jesus did not allow Himself to be overcome by evil, but He overcame “evil with good.” Therefore He could teach us to “love your enemies; bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Matt. 5:44. The opposite of being overcome by evil is to overcome evil with good. However, if I am overcome by evil, then the person who curses me leads me into the evil. On the other hand, by being good I can help the other person out of the evil into being good. Then evil has been overcome with good. I have helped him out of the evil that had power over him. “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” Rom. 12:19. It is not our business to avenge ourselves because of some evil that was committed against us. We belong to the Lord, and it is His business to take care of us if only we abide in Him who is love. He waits with avenging the evil that has been committed against us to give us the opportunity to help the other person out of his malice by doing good. Therefore we must use the time of grace which God has given to people to be converted before His wrath is poured out. We must “give place to wrath,” waiting on the Lord, not interfering in His plan, whose desire is that all men be saved. 1 Tim. 2:1-6. We cannot dispel darkness with darkness; neither can we drive away evil with evil. Only light can dispel darkness; likewise evil can only be driven out by goodness. This is where we have ample opportunities among people if we believe in the power of goodness. The power of goodness is particularly evident when requiting evil with good; for example, with good words or generosity. Evil people do not expect to be repaid in this way when they are evil. They are shocked, and the evil leaves them. They suffer under their own evil. Let them never overcome you with the result that you experience the same sufferings, but be along in setting the evil ones free from their sufferings. 1 Sam. 24:10-23. Then you are a servant of the Lord, and you will have a glorious inheritance among the saints. Eph. 1:18.Sigurd Bratlie

“Do not forget to entertain strangers . . . .” Heb. 13:2. This is written in command form! It is strictly forbidden to forget it! There is no excuse for such forgetfulness. It is only sin and the self-life that causes you to forget it. “But do not forget to do good and to share . . . .” Heb. 13:16. If I forget this, I have forgotten Christianity; or, in other words, I have forgotten that I have become a disciple of Jesus Christ, or in still other words, that I have forsaken all that is mine. Then I am definitely sleeping sweetly and dreaming many nice dreams that prove not to be true when I wake up again! Such forgetfulness and such sleep are strictly forbidden. We are saved when we obey the command, not otherwise. My beloved friends, take the words in Hebrews 5:9 seriously to heart and keep them there day and night for the rest of your life, during the time of your sojourn! Then you will have truly received wisdom and love in your heart! It cannot succeed for you without them, but with them you will certainly succeed in reaching the glorious goal. God be praised who so sincerely desires to give us everything we need in order to reach the goal! Look up “forget” in the Bible concordance. It is remarkable how often it says in the Bible that they forgot their God! There are therefore no limits to this corrupting, strictly forbidden forgetfulness!!! By carefully reflecting on the matter and on closer observation, it is clear as day that a person always forgets God when he does not keep His commandments, and he always forgets God when he forgets to do good. This is how serious the matter is!!! For example, who thinks about God when he keeps on quarreling or arguing with his neighbor, or when he is angry, or when he accuses his neighbor, or when he repays evil with evil, or when he is dissatisfied and unthankful? It is simply impossible to do anything like that and at the same time think you are pleasing God; or, carrying on with empty talk, thinking that you ae pleasing God at the same time! “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God . . . .” Deut. 8:11. “They forgot the Lord their God . . . .” Judg. 3:7. “They forgot God their Savior . . . .” Ps. 106:21. “And forget not all His benefits . . . .” Ps. 103:2. “I will not forget Your word.” Ps. 119:16. “And [he] immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” “A forgetful hearer . . . .” Jas. 1:24 and 25. Alas! Alas! What a lot of forgetfulness!Elias Aslaksen

This love exceeds all the usual boundaries! It is the love that God has for us. Our calling is to be filled with that same love, to own it as our possession while we are here in the days of our flesh! Then, all limitations to love cease! Then, we have partaken of divine nature and therefore cannot but love everyone individually regardless of the way they are or how they conduct themselves! What a work! What a calling! What an opportunity! What a future for each one who has truly forsaken everything of his own, for every person who believes with all of his heart! This is the good and glad tidings, God’s true gospel! Eph. 3:17-19.Elias Aslaksen