PLAN TO DO GOOD

“If you plan to do evil, you will be lost; if you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love and faithfulness.” Proverbs 14:22 NLT

          I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this is referring to planning to do evil habitually and not one single time.  One misdeed done as an error in judgment or out of haste, while still wrong, doesn’t necessarily lead to successive acts of evil. It can, but that doesn’t mean it has to.  If you follow the path of evil and never turn from it you will end up being lost for all eternity.  If you do that which is good in the sight of God, you will receive blessing upon blessing as a result.   Notice I said “good in the sight of God”.  What we think is good and what God thinks is good tend to be two very different things. “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”  Proverbs 3:7 (NLT)

          It can be difficult to avoid evil when you came from an evil past.  Former associations make living a godly life hard, but the Lord is always there, even within you, to ward off the temptation to fall back into old habits.  Even if you’ve not been involved in evil doings thus far, there is always a first time, so stay close to God in your daily walk.  Just as Adam and Eve saw no harm in partaking of the forbidden fruit based on the serpents convincing lies, so we can fall just as far, just as fast and just as completely.

         Planning to do evil makes it a premeditated act.  That means you have pondered the thought and rationalized the rightness of it.  Regardless of the convincing argument you’ve had with yourself, sin is still sin in the sight of God and nothing on this earth will ever make a sinful act not a sin.  God doesn’t wink at sin, nor does He excuse it.  He forgives it if forgiveness is sought from a sincere and sorrowful heart.  God knows the difference between lip service and sincerity.  Don’t be fooled.  Plan to do good, godly acts as you live for the Lord and give Him all the glory for the results.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!