1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 568
Abstain: to hold back, keep off, to be away, be distant; to have one thing by separating from (letting go of) another
For a Christian to abstain from evil is to eschew evil in every form, whether by what we are seeing, what we are hearing, what we are saying or what we are doing. As has been said, the born again Christian may be the only Bible those around him or her see. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that we walk an upright life, which can only be accomplished if we obey God's Word daily.
We must live a separated life, a sanctified life: our lifestyles must align with God's Word and we must choose to be obedient to Him. Every. Single. Day. It helps me to greet Him when I first begin to wake, even before my eyes are open. "Good Morning, Lord." "Welcome, Holy Spirit." Being aware of the fact that God is with us, with us at all times. My evening prayers usually end with me falling asleep before I say Amen.
Walk Righteously
Isaiah 33:15
He that walks righteously, and speaks uprightly; he that despises the gain of oppressions, that shakes his hands from holding of bribes, that stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil.
Psalm 15:2-5
He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart, who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend, who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath, who lends his money without interest and refuses a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
Ephesians 15:2
(Paul writing to the church in Ephesus)
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.
Walk The Way
Deuteronomy 5:33
You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.
Galatians 5:24, 25
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:7
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Follow God Faithfully
Every army has a Commander-In-Chief, even a spiritual army.
John 7:16, 18
“My teaching is not My own,” Jesus replied. “It comes from Him who sent Me. If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own. He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is a man of truth; in Him there is no falsehood."
Psalm 25:9, 10
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way.
Psalm 27:11
Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors.
Isaiah 30:21
And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: "This is the way. Walk in it."
Where He Leads Me
Psalm 23:3
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Psalm 119:35
Direct me in the path of Your commandments, for there I find delight.
Psalm 61:2
From the ends of the earth I call out to You whenever my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 40:2
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
You know what that miry clay is? Sin. It attempts to cling to us even after God has delivered us from its clutches. It stains our garments and threatens to hold us back from what God is accomplishing in us. But God.
He (God) brings us (they whom He has saved) up out of a horrible pit (death the result of sin) out of the miry clay (sin), and sets our feet upon a rock (the Chief Cornerstone), and establishes our goings (directs our path wherein we are to walk).
Let us pray that you and I may continue to walk where God leads us. Let us listen for His voice that we may obey Him more faithfully. Let us walk, live the life that is pleasing to God, with respect to His Word and His Way, in joy and love. Let us choose to walk like warriors: heads up (with honor), looking forward (towards the unseen destinations), uprightly (with integrity and honor), shield in hand (by faith).
