Proverbs 4:13-15
13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. 14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. 15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.
One of the traps that I have often fallen into is the idea that I can just "take a look" without going all the way. I have no intention of sinning, I'm just going to "check out what those sinners are doing these days". It's like I know there is a boundary line in the sand, and I don't intend to cross the line, I'm just stepping on the line and looking at the other side. This is a big mistake, and one which the writer of Proverbs recognizes. He instructs us to "not enter the path of the wicked" (verse 14), to "avoid it ... turn away from it and pass on" (verse 15). In other words, don't even start to play around the boundaries of that danger zone, don't even touch it but turn away. We need to recognize where our boundary lines are and learn to avoid the paths of sin (i.e. avoid those places that tempt us to cross boundaries).
Lord, help me to avoid the paths of sin in my life.
13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. 14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. 15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.
One of the traps that I have often fallen into is the idea that I can just "take a look" without going all the way. I have no intention of sinning, I'm just going to "check out what those sinners are doing these days". It's like I know there is a boundary line in the sand, and I don't intend to cross the line, I'm just stepping on the line and looking at the other side. This is a big mistake, and one which the writer of Proverbs recognizes. He instructs us to "not enter the path of the wicked" (verse 14), to "avoid it ... turn away from it and pass on" (verse 15). In other words, don't even start to play around the boundaries of that danger zone, don't even touch it but turn away. We need to recognize where our boundary lines are and learn to avoid the paths of sin (i.e. avoid those places that tempt us to cross boundaries).
Lord, help me to avoid the paths of sin in my life.