Heed God’s Warnings to Avoid Sin

Goldenrod ~ taken with a zoom so I didn’t have to get too close!

Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 
Proverbs 4:14, 15

For the past week, my blogging has been sporadic.  It has not been due to a lack of ideas or interest; instead, I have been a little under the weather with a sinus infection.  My seasonal allergies flare up mostly in the spring and fall, but it is usually the fall when I experience the crud.  I am not sure, but I think that Goldenrod is one of my culprits.

In Mississippi, Goldenrod blooms prolifically in fall.  Their stark flowers brighten fields and landscapes with splashes of gold, but I try to avoid close exposure.  If I stay outdoors near their vicinity, I get a golden headache!

The Need to Avoid the Temptation to Sin

From a spiritual standpoint, there are things or situations that we should avoid, too.  Of course, we should keep clear of overt sins, but what about those little ways in which we set ourselves up for straying.  The danger signs are often as visible as Goldenrod, and we know we could get into trouble spiritually, but instead of shunning them, we draw near.

We each have our particular areas of temptation.  One I struggle with is gossip.  A conversation about someone can start benign, but then rapidly deteriorate into bad-mouthing.  What begins as simply discussing how a person is faring turns into an opportunity to criticize shortcomings.

God’s Warnings Help Us Avoid Sin

Before I succumb, the Holy Spirit always gives me a gentle nudge as a sign to refrain.  He draws a subtle line to warn me to stop before crossing over into gossip.  Sadly, I do not always obey.

I am doing better, though, as God teaches me how to avoid this detestable sin.  By heeding His clear warning signs, if conversations turn toward gossip, I either change the subject or walk away.  And I try to not be the instigator!

Since sin is so damaging to us spiritually, God lovingly places roadblocks to keep us out of harm’s way.  He always offers us an avenue of escape.

When I stay clear of allergy triggers, my sinuses are happy.  When we heed God’s warning signs and avoid stumbling into sin, it pleases Him.

Sue Nash/2013

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