What is evil?
Today things that are evil are being called good, and good things are called evil. This confuses everyone doesn’t it? When I am confused, I search the scriptures- I am thankful that I believe God gave us clear guidelines when Moses heard the ten commandments from the voice and hand of God.
1Peter 5:8 states:” Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about , seeking whom he may devour.”
Who is he seeking? John 10:10 says ” The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” The thief in this verse refers to anyone or anything that misleads, harms, or robs people of Spiritual truth and life. The imagery of stealing, killing, and destroying are the consequences of following deceptive paths: loss of Spiritual insight, moral corruption, ultimately, separation from God. When we fall away from doing what God clearly tells us can lead us to death, those things are evil, granting you premature death as you design your own consequence through disobedience to God’s word, His commandments.
What does God’s word say about robbery?
Exodus 20:15 “Do Not Steal” Leviticus 19:13 says: “Do not steal anything or cheat anyone and don’t fail to pay your coworkers at the end of each day.” Proverbs 21:7: “You destroy yourself by being cruel and violent and refusing to live right.” Proverbs 10:2 says: “What you gain by doing evil won’t help you at all. Obeying God is the only way to be saved from death.” After Zacchaeus found the Lord, he repented and said:” Later that day Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ” I will give half of my property to the poor. And I will pay back 4 times as much to everyone I ever cheated.” Luke 19:8. Ezekiel 33:15 is clear: “For example, they need to return anything they have taken as security for a loan and anything they have stolen, then if they stop doing evil, and start obeying my law, then they will live.” Proverbs 23:5 says” God’s justice will prevail and the wicked who refuse to do what is right will face consequences.” Ephesians 4:28 says: “If you are a thief, quit stealing. Be honest and work hard so you will have something to give people in need.”
I have found through life and counseling many people, the biggest problem people have is forgiving those who have violated their boundaries, threatened their safety, their livelihood, their person, or family. At times when this violation happens, is when people become afraid, bitter, impulsive they may even become angry, and hold onto that anger. What does God’s word say about this?
Proverbs 16:22 says:” Controlling your temper is better than being a hero who captures a city.”
Proverbs 14:29 says: ” It’s smart to be patient, but it’s stupid to lose your temper.”
Ephesians 4:31,32 says:” Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or even be rude. Instead, be kind and merciful and forgive others just as God forgave you because of Christ.” I have many more scriptures to instruct the right thing to do, what God tells us to do over and over again, is to trust Him. 1 Peter 5:7,8,9 “God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to Him. Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy the devil. is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack. But You must resist the devil and stay strong in your faith. You know that all over the world the Lord’s followers are suffering just as you are.”
These are trying times that we are living in we need to take heed to listen and obey what God’s word tells us we should do so we live a long and abundant life. Psalm 91:1 tells us: “Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful.”
Stop worrying what man can do to you when God has your life in His hands. Ask Him today to forgive you of all evil, all sins that hold you back, Jesus died for your sins and rose again from death so that you may have eternal life also. He left us His comforter, the Holy Spirit, ask Him to come to be your guide and comfort through all things in this life.
Jesus will forgive you of all evil.
You will never be the same!