Proverbs 6:16-18. 16There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 18… feet that make haste to run to evil,
It’s one thing when we accidently stumble into trouble, and quite a different thing when we go looking for trouble. That’s the sin that Solomon is describing here, a person who runs toward trouble rather than running away from it.
Where do your feet take you? Who do you surround yourself with? Are you drawn toward those who are complain too much, gossip too much, drink too much, work too much, spend too much.
Yesterday we saw that evil begins in the heart. It is at the heart level that we devise our plans for wickedness and evil. The feet follow the heart. We run toward what we desire most. If we desire vengeance, our feet will take us there. If we desire to hurt someone with rumors, our feet will take us there. Our heart’s evil is eagerly put into action by our feet.
But as we also said yesterday, the person in Christ has a new heart. A new heart that can point feet in a new direction. This is why the Apostle Paul can implore us to “Look carefully at how we walk. Not as unwise, but as wise.” The wise Christian, fearing God and trusting him with every part of our hearts, both should and can determine where they walk and how they walk. Jesus says, “Follow me.” The Spirit says, “Walk in my steps.” These aren’t just lofty ideals that we have no hope of realizing. They are our day by day life in Christ. A life of stepping where Jesus steps. A life of marching to the cadence of Christ. A life of keeping in step with the Spirit. Walking with Jesus is a choice that, in him, you are empowered to make in each and every moment of life.
You see you can’t just decide to not run toward sin and evil. You have to decide to walk with Jesus. To go toward what is good and righteous, loving and kind. We can only truly stop sinning by starting to do good by faith. If you decide to not move toward sin but don’t simultaneously move toward Jesus, eventually you will just start moving toward a different sin.
You: Do you actively follow Jesus? Walk with him? Do you think about how you will do what he does?
You in Christ: In Christ you have a genuine choice to make to live either from your new heart or the old flesh. Do you believe that you have the power to choose the way of Christ over evil?
Chris in you: Is there a specific choice you need to make today in following Jesus.
Pray: Father, I don’t want to run toward evil; I want to follow you in and through Christ and the Spirit. I want to walk in your love and kindness. Guide me today. Amen.
To Live is Christ 