Deposits make a difference - Mountain Movers

“Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of. An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible.” From Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis*

I usually would read a quote like this and get caught in the “apparently trivial indulgence” in something bad. I would remember the “ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible” in my soul – the sin I’m fighting, for instance. I know stories of people who had something awful planted within them and that dark thing grows and chokes out life, light, and hope.

But Good AND Evil both increase at compound interest. A little deposit of a “good” can pay off in a life steered in the direction of Good, a relationship improved by a kind word of encouragement, a seed of hope planted for someone else. I expect you could list people whose words or suggestions helped to orient you into a better and more fruitful path. And I expect that you could also make a list of people whose encouragement and wisdom helped you continue walking the road God has for you.

Deposits make a difference.

God,

Thank you for your sincere love that hates evil and calls us to imitate you. Help our hearts to be full of your goodness and help us to repay evil with blessing. We ask in Christ’s name, Amen.

“For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” (Matthew 12:34-35 NIV)

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9 NIV)

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:9 NIV)

“Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.” (3 John 11 NIV)