May 12

There is a powerful word in Micah 7:8. It says, “Rejoice not over me, O my enemy, for when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.” The Apostle Paul echoes this in Romans 7:15-25 where he acknowledges the futility of his own will to do right—and the complete efficacy of the Lord’s ability to achieve right goals within us.

The temptation to evil is ever present in the fallen world in which we live. To resist the natural proclivity to yield to the lure of power, prestige and riches is a full time endeavor. The very repetition of the need to overcome is ample evidence of the perpetual nature of the human preoccupation with the propensity to sin.

How are we to deal with this strong trait that thwarts our efforts to serve Christ faithfully in the beauty of holiness? Peter gives a bit of insight in I Peter 3:11 that is invaluable counsel. He says, “Turn away from wickedness; shun it and do right. Search for peace and pursue it eagerly.” We must resolve to make a two-pronged concerted effort to resist sin, and the verbs Peter uses are strong ones.

We must shun wickedness. That is a studied avoidance of the sins to which our own hearts are susceptible. And we must pursue or follow after peace with all diligence. When we have done these two things, we have extended our hand to the Holy Spirit who has been given to us to illumine our walk through this dark world, and to raise us up when we have stumbled on its treacherous path.