While growing up, I was always told, “see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil and no evil shall befall you”.

It became one of the principles that checked my excesses howbeit to some extent, because the Bible states, “… The whole world lies in the power of the evil one”(1John 5:19).

Which means that evil is present everywhere. If evil is present everywhere, how then can we avoid the seeing, hearing and the speaking of evil?

Let us explore the Bible for insight.
* We thank God who gave us HIS mind – the Bible, and which contains principles that if lived, would preserve our lives from the devil and his forces of evil.

Some of such guiding principles is in our opening scripture which says:

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil”. (Proverbs. 3:7).

Before I even attempt to go into a theological diatribe, let us look further into some Bible verses that are similar to our opening verse:

a. “The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hot-headed and yet feels secure.” (Proverbs 14:16);

b. “Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided”.(Proverbs 14:16)

* From these scriptures, you will observe that “the fear of GOD” is always linked to a departure from evil.

Good is a characteristics of GOD just as evil is synonymous with the devil. It follows then that when you identify with GOD, you would be influenced by your love for HIM and your identity in HIM to depart from evil.

* CHRIST told HIS disciples that: “…the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in ME” (John 14:30).

In 1 JOHN 5:9, we read that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one”, and even though evil is everywhere, CHRIST stated very clearly; “he has nothing in me”.

* Wahoo! There was nothing in CHRIST that linked HIM to the evil one! There was and is a clear distinction between “good” and “evil”, between CHRIST and the devil, and between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness.

CHRIST reigns in the Kingdom of Light and made us the light of the world. Anyone who is in the light cannot walk in darkness..

Evil is of the kingdom of darkness and satan d-evil-one rules there!

* When you are in CHRIST, the love of GOD constrains you from acting evilly; and thus, the ruler of the world would have nothing of his, in you! You are way out of his league.

How to understand the fear of God:

The Psalmist stated in Psalm 119:11;”I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you”(Nlt).

When the Word of GOD forms the framework for your thought life, you will not be challenged in keeping away from evil and the evil one cannot get to you.

*A quick study of the character traits of Job would help us to better understand the concept of how the “fear of GOD” motivates one to “depart from evil”.

In Job 1:1, Job is said to be: ‘perfect’, ‘upright’, ‘feared GOD’ and ‘eschewed evil’.
1. Job was “perfect” in the sense that he had high moral values, a well-balanced personality, transparent, open and he lived and walked as a light to his world. He was a man of integrity.

2. As an “upright” person, he was straightforward and not cunning/bent or deceptive; He was a man who maintained high moral character in his interpersonal relationships; he was loyal and faithful.

3. Because he had a high and holy concept of GOD, he “feared GOD – he revered and held GOD in awesome respect and fear.

4. And because “he feared GOD” Job “avoided evil!” He deliberately turned his back on evil; he rejected opportunities to do evil.

Expounding this concept further, the KJV Parallel Bible Commentary says of Job:
“Job had a high and holy concept of GOD, and as a result, he hated evil…. As a result of Job’s fear, reverence, respect for GOD, he turned away from evil. He rejected the evil thing and as a deliberate act of the will turned aside from temptation and opportunities to do wrong. His outward walk conformed to his inner convictions. Being for something (GOD) also implies being against something (evil)”(See page 928, 1994, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.).

Dear friend, the fear of GOD is the motivation to avoid evil.

Thanks be to GOD who in CHRIST JESUS has imputed HIS righteousness to us and imparted us with the enabling grace to walk in righteousness.

* Which means that if you have accepted CHRIST as the LORD of your life, sin no longer has dominion over you, you are able by GOD’s grace to overcome the promptings to do, see or speak evil, and the evil one will have nothing of his in you! Shalom!

PRAYER:

Dear Merciful GOD, we thank YOU that you have made YOUR mind available to us in written form, and for the grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST that has made us right with YOU.

We are grateful also that we have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness and have been transported by YOUR SPIRIT into the Kingdom of light and have become lights to our world.

We declare that our light shines and darkness cannot comprehend it. We yield our mind to YOU and ask that our thought-life/ thinking pattern be cleansed so that we would think more on YOUR WORD and thereby become YOUR living WORD in this world.

We ask forgiveness for all the times that we seized opportunities to do, see and speak evil, and for all the ways we have disrespected YOU by our thoughts, words and actions.

Help us to grow in the fear of YOU. Help us to know YOU more than we do now so that we can become more like CHRIST in worship, character and service to YOUR glory and praise.

We rest our souls in the assurance that CHRIST has overcome the world and by our faith in CHRIST JESUS, we have overcome the world as well. Thank you for answers to prayers, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amein

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From Hephzibah Christly

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