Skip to main content

Clinging to Good


We read some very strong language in Romans 12:9, that tells us to “hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” When it comes to “hating evil” and “clinging to good” we know there is a much deeper meaning than what first appears. The key to unlocking the meaning of these two commands is the word “hate” and “cling.” 

We have already learned that “hating” evil means to “abhor” it or to find it “disgusting.” We must grow so strong, spiritually, (sanctification) that anything not of God (that which is evil) will be disgusting to us. We recognize evil and vow to never entertain it. 

In that same verse, we also see a different pursuit which is the exact opposite of evil. It tells us to “cling” to what is good. So, how exactly, does one cling to good? Our answer lies in the Greek word for “cling” which is the verb “κολλάω.” The translation of this word means “glue,” “to be joined” or “to keep company.” The meaning can also mean “to fasten firmly together” or “to join one’s self to.” 

We must embrace goodness and all the things that it spiritually, morally and ethically endorses. We must get to the point where, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can firmly fasten to and join together with goodness in order to build up our mind, soul, heart and strength. In other words, we fall in love with goodness and vow never to divorce from it.   

Now, what kind of “goodness” are we speaking of? What do we really mean by things that are “good?” When we speak of “good” it implies those things that are honorable, upright, and beneficial. For example, this form of “good,” empowers us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and it will help develop within us the fruits of the Spirit to live out love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

When we embrace “goodness” and choose to “stick to it like glue,” we will begin to live out God’s plan for us to be holy as He is Holy. In the teachings of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, he calls this “going on towards perfection” or “sanctification.” By clinging to good, we are obediently and sacrificially rendering spiritual acts of worship by presenting our bodies (lives) as living sacrifices that are holy and acceptable to God. 

Clinging to good and sticking to good “like glue” is, in all reality, a full surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We consecrate ourselves to God by forsaking the world and willfully setting ourselves apart in order to accomplish God’s will for our lives. It is fully giving of ourselves, 100%, by allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us to help us to become holy as God is Holy. 

I like what the Free Methodist Church says about this: “…believers must give themselves without reservation to God. They freely yield all to the purposes of God and devote every desire and ambition to the service of Christ rather than to self….Christians cannot be delivered from the dominion of sin if they permit self to reign in their lives. They cannot serve two masters….”  (2019 Book of Discipline; Paragraph 3107).

When we turn from evil and “cling” or “stick like glue” to what is good, we are choosing to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind and to have no other gods before Him. We can love our neighbors as ourselves. We can find evil disgusting and embrace the goodness of unconditional love. 

We are told in the Old Testament: Amos 5:14, “Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live!” We are reminded again in the New Testament: 1 Thessalonians 5:22, “Stay away from every kind of evil.” Christians should not keep company with the Devil. We should be investing our life in a close, personal and intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. 

As St. Augustine wrote, ““It is good for me to stick close to my God. This will constitute the perfect and eternal wisdom, as it will constitute the truly happy life, because to attain it is to attain the eternal and supreme good, and to stick close to God forever is the sum of our good.” 

May we find the evil of this world disgusting and worth avoiding. May we discover that God is not only good, but that we can cling to His goodness! With Jesus as Savior and the Holy Spirit’s power within us, may we cling to God and stick to Him “like glue!” 

Click the link to enjoy a song by Mylon LeFevre: "Love God - Hate Sin"




Popular posts from this blog

Tetelestai!

Just before Jesus gives up His spirit on the cross, He utters a very powerful word. The word that He cries out is “ tetelestai” (tih-tellis-tie). When literally translated, this word means, “It is finished.” It can also refer to something completed or accomplished. The word occurs in  John 19:28  and 19:30 and these are the only two places in all of the New Testament where it is found. In the John19:28 passage, it is translated, “After this, when Jesus knew that all things were now  completed , in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, he said, ‘I thirst.’” Two verses later, he utters the word himself: “Then when he received the sour wine Jesus said, ‘ It is finished ,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”   Did you know that the word  tetelestai  was also written on business documents or receipts in New Testament times to show indicating that a bill had been paid in full? The Greek-English lexicon (by Moulton and Milligan) sa...
Read more

The 50-Days of Easter

Jesus rose from the dead. Period! He is alive. We are “easter people” and live daily as proof that He is risen from the dead. He did walk out of the grave. He conquered death. Jesus not only came back to life, but He stayed on earth to be seen by many witness.   1 Corinthians 15:5-8 , “ He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.”   After the resurrection, Jesus spent forty days on earth before He ascended back to His rightful place (1 Peter 3:22), and then there were ten more days after that before the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47).   Jesus accomplished many things in this time between His resurrection and return to Heaven. One of the most important was actually a command to us. We refer to this impor...
Read more

Not Rejected

I think we could spend hours, if not days, in just the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel. If there is one thing that is made clear in this writing is that God is passionately pursuing us and bidding us to have a relationship with Him that is restored by His Son, Jesus.   There is one verse, in particular, that stands out to me. John 6:37 , “However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.” Those that come to Jesus will never be rejected. If you come to Jesus, just as you are now, he will not turn you away. He gladly welcomes you to come to him.   It is not God’s design or plan that we live separated from Him. He makes the way for that relationship to happen. He initiated the plan. He paid the price. He gives freely. He gives us free-will to choose or reject that offer of reconciliation through Jesus, His Son.   God makes His intent clear:  Ezekiel 33:11 , “As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the ...
Read more