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 with his children 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.
Here’s what we all know – 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 righteousness.
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 remember your heart IS in the right place. Why? 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. The truth is that we always choose what we believe is most pleasing. If you make a choice to do what is right over what is wrong, if you choose the path of righteousness over the path of the wicked, even when you think your heart wasn’t in it, it was. Deep inside we always choose what we most want to do.
Will our motives and choices be mixed? Of course they will. Remember Paul’s self-talk in Romans 7:
Romans 7:19-20. 19For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
Not only do we have the indwelling Christ, we also still have indwelling sin. The Spirit and the flesh battle inside of us. The question is which of these are we paying attention to?
Romans 8:5. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
Christian, you live according to the Spirit. That is a fact. In Christ, you want to do what is right, you can do what is right, and you are doing what is right. How can I say this? Because he who is in you is more powerful than he who is in the world. Christ in you has won. The Spirit in you is winning. You are victorious.
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 