“Don’t Deviate From God’s Word and Purpose For You”

Joshua 1:3-9

Deviate is defined as to turn aside, as from a route, way, course; stray from path; drift; depart.

There are people who profess to being Christians, yet live lives not in keeping with the precepts of the scriptures, compromising their biblical beliefs by living like the world. For them, the things of the world and its sensual allurements take precedence over the word of God. Jesus referred to these people as “those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” These are the ones who, though professing to follow Christ, compromise their faith by craving worldly success and accolades from their fellow man. Jesus chastised such people who rationalized their questionable behavior: “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” The word tells us in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 that, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. When we notice ourselves deviating and stepping into sin, Isaiah 1:16 says, “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes! Cease to do evil.” When we hear the Holy Spirit say, Don’t go any further, we must stop and repent, wash ourselves and make ourselves clean with the word of God and cover ourselves with the blood of Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us back on course, back on the right path that God has planned for us to go and to do what He has called us to do.

I come by this morning to let you know we must deviate from God’s word and purpose. We must be fully obedient to His word. And we must recognize that His word is not to be compromised for any reason or for anyone. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left, remove your foot from evil. Be bless and I love you!!! JE