“Near the end of his letter to the church in Rome,” Stan began, “the apostle Paul wrote something that is really essential for my walk with God in an ever-deepening relationship.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Paul wrote,” Stan replied, “that I am to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.”
“Seems like good advice,” I responded.
“Not only good,” Stan said, “but excellent!”
“What really struck me,” he said, “and what I want to focus on is the part about being innocent regarding evil.”
Continuing, he added, “It seems to me that what Paul was and is warning about is that I am to be innocent in the sense of having nothing to do with evil.”
“But isn’t evil a fact of life?” I asked.
“It may be a fact of life,” Stan responded, “but that does not mean it has to be a fact of my life.”
Continuing, he said, “I have in me the Holy Spirit of God who is fully capable of keeping me away from all of the evil that wants to pull me down. He is ready, willing, and able. All I have to do is choose to allow Him to do all He is capable of doing.”
“It’s kind of like,” I replied, “what you told me about starting down the road of sin and the impact that beginning that journey can have.”
“Exactly,” Stan exclaimed. “We talked about how sin will take me further than I intend to go, keep me longer than I intend to stay, and cost me more than I intend to pay. Big price for wrong choices!”
Concluding, Stan said, “I can avoid all of that by choosing to be innocent of evil by choosing to have nothing to do with it. I just have to remember that this, along with everything else about my walk with God, is a choice. Remember and choose wisely!”
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Be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. Romans 16:19.
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your provision of wisdom and innocence. I confess that too often I choose to be unwise and guilty. Please forgive my foolishness. And please lead me and help me to follow your lead in choosing to be wise in what is good by choosing to have everything to do with it, while choosing to be innocent of evil by having nothing to do with it. I surrender and ask to be filled with all you have for me. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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Things to think (and journal) about:
1. What is your biggest take-away from this devotional?
2. What does this devotional say about God and about us as His people?
3. What is God saying to you to do personally?
4. Who can you share this with to make a difference?
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Comments, questions, suggestions, and the like can be addressed to The Storyteller at: waiting4thetrain@gmail.com.
Waiting for the Train 