You have probably heard the expression, “if you play with fire you will get burned.” Telling someone this is telling them that they are risking serious consequences with their action, and indirectly telling them to stop their risky behavior.

Psalm 16:6 expresses a similar idea but more directly, “by fearing the Lord, people avoid evil.” the Living Bible translates it as, “evil is avoided by reverence for God.”

If we “fear” God, or “have reverence” for God, we will avoid those things that bring us close to evil.

The chances of us giving into temptations are much lower, if we avoid where the temptations exist. When we fear God, we will try to fill our time with those things he would like us to do, which should inherently keep us away from many temptations.

Dear Lord, we need to avoid evil. Thinking we can just resist temptations every time is like “playing with fire.” Avoiding the temptation in the first place, gives us a much better chance to avoid evil, and do your will. Help us to see that path around temptation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.