What steps can we take to avoid the "did evil in the sight" pattern? Setting the Scene Judges 2:11 sets the pattern: “Then the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.” That tragic refrain echoes throughout the book of Judges and warns every generation. How can we break the cycle instead of repeating it? Recognize the Pattern • Forget God’s past works • Drift toward the surrounding culture • Exchange wholehearted worship for compromise • Suffer the painful consequences Seeing the steps helps us reverse them. Step 1: Remember God’s Faithfulness • Deuteronomy 6:12 — “be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt” • Keep a written record of answered prayers and providences • Rehearse His deeds in family conversation and corporate worship Step 2: Guard Your Affections • Proverbs 4:23 — “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.” • Identify competing “Baals” (anything that steals first love) • Set practical boundaries to curb spiritual drift (media, relationships, ambitions) Step 3: Stay Grounded in Scripture • Psalm 119:11 — “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” • Commit to daily reading plans and memorization • Apply what you learn immediately (James 1:22) Step 4: Cultivate Godly Community • Hebrews 10:24-25 — “let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.” • Prioritize regular gathering with believers • Choose friends who provoke holiness rather than compromise Step 5: Practice Immediate Repentance • 1 John 1:9 — “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” • Keep short accounts with God; don’t let sin harden into habit • Replace secrecy with humble confession to trusted believers Step 6: Embrace Accountability • Proverbs 27:17 — “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” • Invite honest questions about your walk with Christ • Submit major decisions to counsel from mature believers Step 7: Live in Daily Dependence on the Holy Spirit • Galatians 5:16 — “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” • Begin each day yielding desires, plans, and weaknesses to His control • Expect His empowering presence to produce obedience and joy Putting It Together Break the “did evil in the sight” cycle by reversing its causes: remember rather than forget, guard rather than drift, obey rather than compromise. As we intentionally pursue these seven steps, we exchange Israel’s sorrowful refrain for a life that is “pleasing in the sight of the LORD.” |
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