Abstain from Evil

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. (Pro 27:12)

The age old argument that God created everything including that which is evil, therefore some conclude that God is ultimately the source of evil thus choose to reject Him. God did create both the devil and mankind and the truth is that all of God’s creation was created good. God also gave freedom to both man and angels to choose to follow or to rebel against Him. Rebellion gives birth to evil because of the abuse of the God given freedom. Freedom allows us to make choices at the fork in the road.

Abstain from all appearance of evil. (1Th 5:22)

The consequences of making the wrong choices can be avoided, we cannot deny the principle of reaping what we sow (Gal 6:7). God may not force choices on us, even if He does nobody can prevent a rebellious heart. Don’t test the boundaries of morality, don’t even go near. Don’t taste and see to know its flavor. Driving our morality near the boundary of evil is like testing God.  Choices reflect the true heart condition and the apostle warns us not to deceive ourselves and that God cannot be mocked.

Deceitful Tongue

They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. (Psa 12:2)

Jesus did warn us that the mouth cannot hide the true condition of the heart. Deceitful words are spoken every moment with selfish intents, trap laid with lures to draw victims. Many have fallen into various traps because of the lures that seem to be able to satisfy an inward void.

Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. (Psa 131:2)

We can have the propensity to filter out what is truth and what are lies. The offer is open to everyone who trusts in Jesus, it’s a matter of what state we desire to be. From where do we draw our life and satisfaction or do we desire temporal gratification. Have we found the Pearl of Great Price or even chose the good which can be the enemy of the best? When we have discovered that there is a better place and position in Christ, any deceitful words will be deflected as truth will be our shield.

Fulfilling the Law

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.(Matt 5:17)

Antinomianism is the reaction of those who see the Law and Commandments of God as dos and don’ts, with the intention of being restrictive. A religious Jew once told me that the 10 Commandments were written on stone, the reflection of the human heart. However God can replace the stony and stubborn heart with a tender and responsive heart (Jer 31:33). Note that in either case, God will still write His Law on both stony and tender heart. Therefore it is the matter of the recipient and not with God.

And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? (Luke 14:3)

The Law was given with the knowledge that it will not constraint sin, hence we don’t have to think of the Law as restrictive and choking. The Law was given to tell us that salvation is by faith and not by works. Jesus never did away with the Law but reminded us that love is the foundation of the Law, by this we know the true spirit of the Law. The Law continually points us to God, for God Himself is Love. Out of that tender heart we know how to treat others above self thus fulfilling the Law.

Faithfulness

Thou shalt not commit adultery. Exo 20:14)

The issue with adultery is not about the act, but with regard to the faithfulness.  Jesus went deeper to the root of the matter to tell us that it is not about the doing but about the being (Matt 5:28). God, who is the keeper of the covenant, knows that the human heart will have the tendency to stray hence His chastening serves His divine purpose to return us into His enveloping love.

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44)

The apostle beckons us to keep ourselves in God’s love (Jude 1:21), that is to watch carefully that we are constantly in the safe place of the Father’s love. This watching is not a legalistic one outlined by dos and don’ts but one whose core is founded in love. Stay faithful to God and not to any task, regardless of how spiritual the task may be. To keep ourselves is to know the inclusiveness into His family. Betrayal is most foul in any family, stay in the place of faithfulness.