Unlimited: Wise and Innocent
Jan 16, 2024 308
Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil (Romans 16:19).
The apostle Paul has been telling us to avoid those who with flattery and smooth talk try to cause divisions on controversial issues (vv.17-18.) Beyond avoiding them, what else can we do to stay focused and firm on the Gospel, and not be side-tracked by other issues?
To answer this, Paul gives us a key principle to keep us safe as we follow Jesus. He tells us “to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.” This reminds us of the Garden of Eden, where God told Adam and Eve,
but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die (Gen. 2:17.)
Be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil
Have you ever thought about how strange this is? We value knowledge, and surely knowledge about good and evil is important as a precursor to making wise choices. Yet the kind of knowledge that this tree represented was deadly.
This refers to a particular kind of knowledge. This is the knowledge that we use to judge others and either accept or condemn them. Judgment is a function that belongs only to God. It is better to focus on the good than on the evil of others, and to leave judgment to God.
Spiritual Application
Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Take stock and review what you have thought about in the last 24 hours. How does it align with Paul’s advice?
Jane
Jan 19, 2024
I'm glad I read this article. Yesterday, I was faced with a situation that I knew would have lead to a dead-end argument and judgement of others including myself and dragging me into judging others -something I try to not do. Since I have lived where I live, I've found a lot of ways can adversely affect a person, It's been hard to deal with, shown me how subtke judgment off others can be, how useless and even cruel. God can use these things to how us our own flaws too, That can lead to crying out to Him to help us deal with things. Yesterday, I found myself saying, "It's not up to us to judge each other...It's not our job..." I was also put on the spot about something once said even thoughnin my heart I knew I had not meant it. I didnot expect it to be thrown back at me but am glad it was because it enabled me to clear the air and make my real position - in God - clear as I could only say, "I was wrong to say that (about some people). I should never have said it. I love them and I will always love them. I should never have said that, It's not how I think and feel about them." To my surprise, the person with whom I was speaking showed they understood. Something changed, I don't know what. A door closed on evil. Thank you Jesus.
OKURUT MARTIN
Jan 19, 2024
Thanks for spiritual update