But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully. Those who render me evil for good accuse me because I follow after good. Psalm 38:19-20.

I grew up with Wile E. Coyote never ceasing his pursuit of Road Runner. Falling off cliffs or having the latest ACME order blow up in his face were not reasons for the predator to desist.

Evil is relentless. This is David’s experience … and perhaps yours as well. As the Road Runners in this dark world, we look out at the Coyotes’ reckless hate that never stops and question how we can go on.

But, if you remember from the cartoon, the Road Runner was never focused on himself as the target. He just lived and survived, but instead of happenstance, followers of Christ survive because we trust in a good God’s intervention.

Yes, the world will hate you just because you “follow after good,” but we are wise to adopt a Road Runner perspective in the way we allow the wickedness around us to affect us.

To add in other animals to this illustration—we must be as shrewd about evil as serpents (not purposely walking into the traps like Road Runner often did) while being innocent as doves!