If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?

                                                                                                         Luke 11:13 

Today: Read Luke 11

There is a distinct difference between what is good and what is evil. I hesitate to use the word “bad” in describing the opposite of good simply because it has the potential to confuse and misguide. The opposite of good is evil. Consider the following:

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 

                                                                                                   James 1:17

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

                                                                                                       Isaiah 5:20 

If it’s not good it is not from God and it is evil. Everything evil is opposed by God and cannot be blessed by Him. Everything that we experience in this life that is “good” is from God. A solid marriage, godly children, the ability to make money, strength and wisdom, love, joy, peace, fulfillment, and contentment are all blessings from God. Try defining the opposites for these things and we can see what evil looks like.

The Bible pronounces a “woe” to those who confuse good and evil. I believe that we are living in a culture that is literally doing what this verse is describing. For some, life seems to be an exercise in opposing everything that God has established. Darkness is confused with light and that which is bitter is tolerated while that which is sweet is condemned. Christians can be assured that our world will not change until the second coming of Christ. In fact, the Bible indicates that it will get increasingly worse.

So why is it important that we understand the difference between what is good and what is evil? I believe that comprehending the differences allows us to identify the origin of each. Everything evil resides in the kingdom of darkness and is opposed to God and Christ. Everything good is of the kingdom of light and is from God working against the empty philosophies of the world. Today’s passage tells us that we can receive the ultimate in what is good: the very presence of God.

As Jesus teaches on ask and receiving, He makes a remarkable statement. Everyone who asks Him for His Spirit will receive. In order to understand this concept we have to be able to apply the truth that whoever asks will receive. So whoever asks for the Spirit of God (which results in salvation) will receive. The Holy Spirit is described by many titles: our Advocate, Counselor, Mediator, Helper, and One who runs along side to help us (much like someone encouraging a marathon runner). The Spirit teaches, instructs, convicts, comforts, and guides. I believe the very best gift that heaven has for anyone is the very presence of God. That is what we saw in the arrival of Christ at Bethlehem and it is what we see in the Spirit of God as He resides in the lives of those who simply ask.

One reason why we need to study all of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) is that by studying all three, we get a clearer and more complete picture of the truths found in these books of the Bible. For example, compare today’s passage from Luke to the same account from Matthew: 

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

                                                                                                         Matthew 7:11 

In Matthew, Jesus says that everyone who asks will receive that which is good. This word is from the Greek agathos. It can be defined as something that is useful, favorable to or promoting health, promoting or conducive to some beneficial purpose, good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy. That’s quite a description! The important thing to remember is that all of these things deemed “good” in scripture come from God.

Now compare that with Luke’s account of declaring that everyone who asks will receive the Holy Spirit. Simply put, all good things are from God therefore the very presence of God would be “good” personified. If God is actively present in our lives then we have every good thing that we need for this life and life eternal.

Have you asked God to bless you with His presence? Do you desire Him over everything else in this life? Good and evil cannot coexist neither can light and darkness. Which one best characterizes your life? Call on God today and experience the goodness of His presence!