The Path You Are On is Not Going to End Well
Avoiding the Path of Evil
Every day we have many choices to which path to take
Proverbs 16:17 might be quickly read over
But it has a very important message
The highway of the upright avoids evil;
he who guards his way guards his life.
All paths are to get us from one spot to another
Each path is a choice
A choice of convenience, time, pleasure, and personal advancement
God made us with a sense to avoid things that will harm us
Avoid evil and guard your life
Avoiding the Path of Evil
Every day you and I travel.
We move from one spot to another.
If we are traveling a long distance
we take a road, street, or highway.
On shorter trips we may use a sidewalk,
or a path of stone or dirt.
Even if we never leave our house…
We will use a hallway.
In some homes you can see in the carpet
a path most traveled.
Some paths have security,
like hand rails and lights.
Other paths make us uncomfortable.
Every day we have many choices
to which path to take.
Proverbs 16:17 might be quickly read over but…
It has a very important message.
The highway, path of the upright, virtuous,
avoids the way of evil
He who guards his way guards his life,
follows the safe path.
NIV, NLT
All paths are to get us from one spot to another.
Each path is a choice…
A choice of convenience, time,
pleasure, and personal advancement.
God made us with a sense
to avoid things that will harm us.
We know some roads look good, but…
There are points where danger waits.
Life would be so much simpler if…
You could get on the right path
and everything on that path goes well.
But the path of life is full
of choices and obstacles,
dangers and evil.
Finding the safe path that avoids evil
takes Wisdom and Knowledge.
Being a wise navigator takes Wisdom.
Look for the path of opportunity,
because days are evil.
Understanding God’s will,
is key to avoiding an evil path.
Ephesians 5:15-18…
Be very careful, then, how you live
— not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the most of every opportunity,
because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish,
but understand what the Lord's will is.
Don’t take the path of revenge, but…
The path of good to overcome evil.
Romans 12:19-21…
Do not take revenge, my friends,
but leave room for God's wrath,
for it is written:
"It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
20 On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good.
Test everything.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-23…
Test everything.
Hold on to the good.
22 Avoid every kind of evil.
Don’t let money direct your path,
make sure you stay on the path of faith.
1 Timothy 6:10…
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
Some people, eager for money,
have wandered from the faith
and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Be careful of who you walk with.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34…
Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
34 Come back to your senses as you ought,
and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God
— I say this to your shame.
We are meant to partner with others, but…
That partnership needs to be taken very seriously.
Business, marriage, roommates,
social groups, friends, etc.
will affect your path.
A friend of mine said he would help a person
but not partner with them because…
If they took the wrong path
and got a spanking
he would get a spanking, too.
2 Corinthians 6:14-15…
14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.
For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?
Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
Wisdom and Knowledge should give you peace
and the peace of Christ is a corporate peace
not just individual peace.
Colossians 3:15…
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body you were called to peace.
And be thankful.
With Wisdom and Knowledge test everything.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22…
19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire;
20 do not treat prophecies with contempt.
21 Test everything.
Hold on to the good.
22 Avoid every kind of evil.
Walk on the mature path.
2 Timothy 2:22…
22 Flee the evil desires of youth,
and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace,
along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Keeping your path free of envy and selfishness
will give you a path of peace and righteousness.
James 3:16-18…
For where you have envy and selfish ambition,
there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is
first of all pure;
then peace-loving, considerate, submissive,
full of mercy and good fruit,
impartial and sincere.
18 Peacemakers who sow in peace
raise a harvest of righteousness.
Proverbs 16:17
reminds us how important it is for us
to live a virtuous and upright life.
It is not enough to just live a good life
because dangers cross every path.
Seasons change and the sidewalk in the summer
could have ice on it in the winter.
The path to our future will have
economic changes, sickness, failures of others.
These challenges will take prayer to find out
how to keep on the path of…
God’s will and purpose for your life.
We need to do our best to avoid evil, but…
When faced with evil
we need God’s Wisdom and Knowledge
to deal with it.
Scripture Reading
Proverbs 16:17 NIV
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
he who guards his way guards his life.
Proverbs 16:17 NLT
17 The path of the virtuous leads away from evil;
whoever follows that path is safe.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
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