MEMORISE:“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” – (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

READ: PROVERBS 4:14-15 (KJV)14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

MESSAGE:The Bible says that a man cannot take fire in his bosom and not be burnt (Proverbs 6:27). Fire in this context is sin. If a believer is allowing sin or an appearance of sin around him or her, he or she is taking fire in his or her bosom and will eventually be burned.

I learned from Joseph’s story that when the devil is determined to bring a man down, he will position temptation around him such that he will keep seeing it continually. He knows that if the temptation is right in front of the fellow every day, it is only a matter of time before he falls.

This is why I have always told my children that they must not have a secretary or personal assistant who is of the opposite sex. It is better not to bring the temptation anywhere near you than to believe that you can resist it.

A common adage in Yoruba land says, if you will not eat it, don’t smell it. If a man has been asking you for a relationship that you know will lead to sin, why are you still answering his calls? If you are always tempted to steal, why will you agree to help your group or department keep the money they have contributed? You must stay far from whatever you know can lead you to sin because the devil is described as a serpent.

A serpent is very subtle and cunning. As dangerous as it is, it can crawl right beside you without you realising it. You may have sworn that you will never do something, but if you allow that thing around you, the devil will cunningly get you to do it.The elders say that it is through an opening in a wall that the lizard gains entrance into the house.

When you give room to temptation around you, you have opened up the wall of your soul, and it is only a matter of time before sin creeps in. Unfriend that friend who always suggests sinful things, relocate from that area where you are more susceptible to committing sin, delete whatever is on your phone that can lead you to sin, and just do whatever it takes to get sin far away from you. It is better to lose these things and make it to heaven than to retain them and go to hell.

ACTION POINT:Think about the things or people that present temptations to you regularly and ensure that you stay away from them.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

JEREMIAH 9-11

AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

HYMNAL: 31 – YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION

1 Yield not to temptation,For yielding is sin; Each vict’ry will help you, Some other to win; Fight valiantly onward, Evil passions subdue; Look ever to Jesus,He will carry you through.

Refrain: Ask the Savior to help you, Comfort, strengthen and keep you; He is willing to aid you, He will carry you through.

2 Shun evil companions,Bad language disdain;God’s name hold in rev’rence,Nor take it in vain; Be thoughtful and earnest, Kindhearted and true; Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through.

3 To him that o’ercometh,God giveth a crown; Through faith we will conquer, Though often cast down; He who is our Savior, Our strength will renew; Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through.