Proverbs 4:14-16. 14Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. 15Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. 16For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
Your path is the choice you make over and over again. As we’ve said before, paths always take you somewhere. Every choice you make is leading you toward a destination. This is why Solomon is so adamant about avoiding the path of the wicked. He knows that when you choose the wicked path it will take you further and further into a life of sin and evil.
Why? Because doing something once makes it easier to do it twice. And then three times, four times, five times… Being selfish once makes it easier to be selfish again. Lying once makes it easier to lie again. Using your position to get your way makes it easier to do it again and again. Addictions (and we all have addictions) keep coming back. Pretty soon all you can think about is doing that evil thing – they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong.
Thankfully this same path principle is true in regards to righteousness also. Doing something good can lead to doing another good thing, and another good thing, and pretty soon you have actually created a habit of right living and you begin to enjoy doing good things. You go to bed at night feeling blessed to be a part of what God is doing in the world.
But what if my heart isn’t in the right place, you ask. I don’t want to be a hypocrite and do good things if I don’t really want to, do I?
Christian, when it comes to making good choices please remember these two truths: 1) Your heart IS in the right place, because you have been given a new heart in Christ. Likely you just haven’t dug deep enough into your desires to see that your will for good is stronger than your will for sin. And 2) Christ in you is the one choosing good and avoiding evil, not you. Your motives will always be mixed. You’ll never want to avoid evil completely. But Jesus in you does.
This isn’t about behavior modification. It’s about faith. Faith in your new heart, the heart of Christ in you.
You: Can you identify any habitual sinful choices that you are making?
You in Christ: Are you learning to trust your new heart? Where have you seen yourself overcome a lesser desire for sin with a greater desire for God?
Christ in you: What specific choice do you need to submit to Christ today?
Pray: Father, keep me off the wicked path. Help me to listen to Christ in me by the Spirit. Amen.
To Live is Christ 