“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good; Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
1Thessalonians 5:2
Have you ever heard it said that to convey a deception, the evil one does not come in ways that seem wrong; he instead comes in forms that have lots of right and true ideologies, with maybe 1-5% of what’s wrong mixed in?
This particular injunction is so important to Christians today—”Abstain from all appearances of evil”. It does not have to be outrightly evil; so long as it looks like evil (even by 1%), you should not be found there. “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.” Proverbs 4:14-15.
The danger of allowing half-good things and half-bad into your space is that you do not notice when it begins to change your mindset. When you suddenly see that something previously unthinkable for you has now become routine, you know something is wrong.
A drop of poison in a gallon of water does not become less poisonous, so we must constantly watch what we allow into our subconscious. Abstain from all appearance of evil can be translated to—give the devil no space to take hold of your mind. Ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to guide your heart and help you flee from all kinds of evil appearances, no matter how enticing they seem.
Philippians 4:8 (KJV) – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Prayer
- Lord, I ask that you help me to be alert to the things I’m not alert to because they’re not THAT bad.
- Father, I ask that you cleanse my heart of the subconscious effect of things I unconsciously let into my space.
- Help me Lord to be sensitive to all appearances of evil.
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Have a blessed day!
