JC Blog

God never intended for us to know about evil. In the beginning He made the universe, the world, all living things and mankind. Then He called it good. Evil, sin and corruption never entered the picture until Eve was deceived by Satan. He used her curiosity about evil to trick her into thinking she would be better off if she knew what evil was. The result was disastrous for mankind. As Adam and Eve partook in the tree that God commanded them not to eat of, their eyes were open to the knowledge of good and evil. The rest is history, the result was the universe and everything within it had a working knowledge that both good and evil existed, and we were not the better for it.

In today's passage Paul is giving a wonderful key to living the Christian life. We are to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. He is saying the best defense against sin and corruption is a good offense. We are to be wise and knowledgeable about what is good. Meaning we should know good and live that way. In the same way we are to be innocent or guileless to evil. In other words, we should stay away from it, having nothing to do with it.

We live our lives out of the convictions of our heart. Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he (man) thinketh in his heart, so is he" meaning that what you do and say comes from the true thoughts and philosophies rooted and established in your heart and thought process. When it comes down to it, whatever you value and believe is how you will act. To benefit from this truth, we are to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil. We cannot be tempted with things we don't think, dwell on or know about. Therefore, don't think about evil things, or go looking for them. Rather be innocent concerning them, and then you will not struggle with those things.

The counter to this is to think about good, plant it in your heart and it will become evident in your lives as your mind renews to those things. The question becomes, what is the good that we should be thinking on? Paul said in Colossians, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God" ( Colossians 3:1-3 ). This is the key to amazing transformation in Christ. Merely think on the things of God and be consumed with them and they will overflow in the way you live your life.

Paul is giving great instruction for us today. So much evil exists in this world, but we can be confident in this truth that Jesus spoke over two thousand years ago, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." ( John 16:33 ). Knowing the goodness of God brings us peace and crushes Satan and the evil that means to destroy us. Jesus has overcome and through faith in Him, we too have overcome. Being wise to what is good will expedite this victory in your daily live.

Have you ever been around someone who is convinced they are right and will hold that position even after proven wrong? They would rather go down with the sinking ship than surrender to reason. This is the case with man apart from recognizing and glorifying God as God.

Paul tells us that ‘Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools." The Amplified Bible puts it this way, "Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves].". ( Romans 1:21-22 Amp )

Darkening of the mind to the knowledge of God produces self promotion and vain imaginations. Professing to know something apart from the understanding of God is really the mark of a fool. This world rely on science, learned knowledge and the natural realm as a basis for truth. But reality of life is found in the written Word of God.

II Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." The scriptures clearly state that this Word is God-breathed, so one could conclude that the Bible is the basis for truth and foundation for knowledge.

One of the purposes of having and reading the Bible is to be fully operational, educated and familiar in the way of righteousness. This is true wisdom. This wisdom is the direct opposite of the foolishness of man relying on professions of human comprehension. Paul calls man's understanding apart from the knowledge of God complete foolishness. And this stupidity stems from an unthankful heart and not giving God the glory due him.

Today I challenge you to find the truth of God's word and plant it within your heart. Let the knowledge of Him open up your understanding to true revelation. Discount and disregard the foolishness of this world for the wisdom of God.

Unlike many Christians today, Paul's obligation to preach the gospel was not due to the guilt and condemnation associated with not sharing Christ among peers, family and friends. Paul's desire to share the gospel came from the overflow of his heart.

Paul's obligation came from His love and devotion to the Lord. In the very first verse of this letter Paul declared that he was servant of the Jesus Christ even before he mentions his apostleship. The Greek word used was 'doulos', which literally means bondman or slave of Jesus Christ. This word depicts the most slavish term possible. It is not by chance that Paul used this word to describe his love relationship with the Lord.

In the Old Testament, a Hebrew slave was by law, set free after seven years of service to his master. If however the slave, loved his master and did not want to be free, then he became a bond-servant of his master for the rest of his life.

Paul by describing himself as a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, was declaring his free choice to remain His slave forever by this expression of love. Such a great love would never preach Christ out of guilt or condemnation, but this attitude did motivated him to continually teach, write and travel so that the world would know what Jesus did for it. Paul was buried and obligated to preach the gospel, but it came from knowing the Lord and his kindness and grace.

As Christians, we have a great commission to fulfill. We do need to walk in the footsteps of those who have gone before us sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and how we have been reconciliation to God the Father through the death and resurrection of His son. But sharing this must stem from knowing God and having a sweet fellowship with him. Today, I pray that you seek the Lord and discover, through His word, who He is and how wonderful He is. Jeremiah 29:13-14a promises us, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD..."