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 it. That’s the sin that Solomon is describing here, a person who runs toward evil rather than running away from it.
Where do your feet take you? Who do you surround yourself with? Are you drawn toward those who complain too much, gossip too much, drink too much, work too much, or 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 trouble is eagerly put into action by our feet. If you want to truly know what is in your heart stop and literally look around at where you are standing. Where did your feet take you?
We also said yesterday, that 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:
Ephesians 5:15-16. 15Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Paul doesn’t say that our hearts are evil. He says that the days are evil. The times. The surrounding worldly culture. In fact, with the new heart, we can now transform how we walk through life. 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 walking where Jesus walks. 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. We can look carefully step by step, until we make our way home to Jesus.
You see, you can’t just decide to not run toward sin and evil. You have to decide to walk with Jesus. If you decide to stop walking toward sin but don’t simultaneously walk with Christ, eventually you will find yourself walking into a new way of sinning. You may walk from immorality to immorality, or you may walk from immorality to moralism, either way, you did not walk with Jesus.
Walking with Jesus is purposeful. It is a daily choice. A moment by moment decision to take up your cross and follow him. You can’t avoid evil by simply trying to avoid evil. You have to run toward something good. And there is nothing better than Jesus and his love.
You: Do you actively follow Jesus? Walk with him? Do you think about how you can 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 