In what ways can we "turn from evil" in modern society? Our Key Verse Psalm 34 : 14 — “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Why Turning Matters • Evil is not just “out there”; it lurks in every human heart (Jeremiah 17 : 9). • God commands a clear, decisive break with sin (Proverbs 3 : 7; Romans 12 : 9). • Turning from evil is inseparable from pursuing good; the two actions rise or fall together (James 4 : 17). Practical Ways to Turn from Evil Today 1. Guard Your Inputs • Media: Refuse entertainment that glorifies immorality (Psalm 101 : 3). • Conversations: Walk away from gossip, coarse joking, or slander (Ephesians 4 : 29). • Digital habits: Set filters and time limits to avoid lust, envy, and rage triggers (Matthew 5 : 28). 2. Shape Your Inner World • Daily Scripture intake renews the mind (Psalm 119 : 11; Romans 12 : 2). • Memorize key verses that confront your specific temptations (1 Corinthians 10 : 13). • Practice immediate confession when sin surfaces (1 John 1 : 9). 3. Choose Active Goodness • Replace bitterness with spoken blessing (Luke 6 : 27–28). • Turn consumerism into generosity: support gospel ministries, aid the poor (2 Corinthians 9 : 7–8). • Volunteer where brokenness is rampant—pregnancy centers, addiction recovery, foster care (Isaiah 1 : 17). Guarding the Heart: Internal Choices • Cultivate the fear of the Lord, the fountain of life that “turns one from the snares of death” (Proverbs 14 : 27). • Fast periodically to break the grip of bodily appetites (Matthew 6 : 16–18). • Sing doctrinally rich hymns and songs; worship dislodges sinful cravings (Colossians 3 : 16). Influencing Society: External Actions • Model integrity at work—no shady shortcuts, no dishonest gain (Ephesians 4 : 28). • Exercise civic responsibility: vote for righteousness, speak truth in public discourse (Proverbs 14 : 34). • Disciple the next generation; mentor teens so they learn early to “hate evil, love good” (Amos 5 : 15). Living the Verse This Week • Identify one digital or relational gateway to evil and shut it. • Schedule a tangible act of good—visit an elderly neighbor, write an encouraging note, give a needed gift. • End each day with Psalm 139 : 23–24, inviting God to expose anything that still needs turning. |
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