Famous Obedience

Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

Romans 16:19

Is there anyone, anywhere, who has it all together? Some people think they do. Paul has some advice for people like that. No matter how strong they are, there is always a weak spot somewhere. The church in Rome was earning a reputation as s sturdy, obedient bunch of believers. But Paul saw potential danger around the corner. He warned the Romans about those who would come and try to deceive them to disobey God. Paul must have had some concerns about the church's gullibility, for he cautioned them about smooth-talkers who could "deceive the minds of naive people" (v.18). That doesn't sound very flattering.

Paul's advice to the Romans is well taken by us also. No matter how far we've come, we're never all the way there. There is always something to learn. It's crucial that Christians never stop growing in wisdom. Just as they were in Paul's day, there are deceivers today who will try to cause division between us and our fellow believers. There are silver-tongued preachers whose message sounds great but is contrary to God's Word. We are to hear them out and try to find the good is what they are saying, right? Wrong, Paul warned his friends in Rome to learn all about what is good and to stay away from anything evil.

Many Christians spend far too much time becoming experts in evil. They seek to learn everything they can about Satan in order to avoid his snares. They end up thinking, reading, and talking more about evil than about God. They are deceived. God does not ask for blind obedience from us, but he does want us to be completely innocent of evil. Our efforts should be spent getting to know him through his Word. We should test everything we hear against God's Word, and we should avoid anything that has the appearance of evil.