Avoiding

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

AVOIDING

Prov 16:6

6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.

NIV

This might give thought, as some are persuaded, the by acts of love, mercy, compassion and being faithful to the faith a man would be able to atone for his sins. But if that is the case why did Jesus have to come incarnate? What was the whole purpose of all the prophets declaring the coming of the Messiah, the one who would atone for the sins of mankind? It is inexcusable for any denomination to imply that any person can by any acts of kindness or love atone for sin. It is without question this love and faithfulness is an act of God toward us. God is the only one who can atone for sin, as sin is an offense against him and without his atonement for it, sin brings death. But there is something we can do and that is fear or revere God and in doing so we can avoid evil. Because our hearts are continually inclined toward evil, toward sin of some nature, whether that be of an immoral bend, or toward greed or gossip, or some other self-serving pursuit, or even doubt, by fearing God we have that check within our spirits and find the strength to turn from our wicked ways and lean on God. Seeking his help is the only way we stand a chance to avoid any evil at all. If we think we can avoid it on our own, we have been deceived by the evil one himself. It is only though God can we avoid those traps which entangle us in evil thoughts, words, and deeds. If we say we do not sin in words, thoughts or deeds, we deceive ourselves and call God a liar. There is no righteousness in us because of our own account, but if we fear God, if we revere him, if we give him honor we have taken the steps necessary away from those evil intents. Does that mean we will never sin again? Doubtful, but we are not always bent toward sin by fearing God, we are bent toward him, and thus his atonement covers us, and evil no longer can bring us death, thus we have avoided the effects of evil, we have avoided evil.