This week I’ve been writing the Scripture Writing Schedule on the “Appearance of Evil.” The memory verse was I Thessalonians 5:22 – “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” Abstain means to “refrain oneself from doing something; to hold back; avoid.” So, we are to train ourselves to refrain ourselves from all appearance of evil. It doesn’t say – some appearance of evil or the appearance of evil when it’s not very tempting. No – it say ALL APPEARANCE OF EVIL, with evil being that which is morally wrong, wicked or harmful. We are told to “hate the evil and love the good” (Amos 5:15a). Paul told the Romans to “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Romans 12:9). The Psalmist said, “Ye that love the Lord, hate evil” (Psalm 97:10). Do you see a pattern here?
You cannot serve God and man at the same time (Matthew 6:24). So, which one do you choose? “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth” (I John 1:6). “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4) Only by abstaining from all appearance of evil can we make sure that we are “walking in the light, as He is in the light and we will have fellowship (me and God) one with another. How I love that thought!
For we are simply blessed, Courtney