The Israelites are told to judge righteously and are warned that a bribe will blind the eyes of the wise. It’s sad to think of a wise person purposefully going blind. That’s a lack of wisdom it would seem. It made me wonder where else in our lives we purposefully blind ourselves. I guess every time we make a justification, we are purposefully blinding ourselves. We know that it’s wrong for us to eat that, drink that, watch that, but we make a justification to ourselves and we do it anyway. We act like it hurts no one. It’s not like the judge who is maybe condemning an innocent man for money. Is it?

If it hurts your soul to blindly go into sin, then it hurts everyone your soul comes into contact with. It’s a lie to think your “bad habit” isn’t affecting your kids, your family. We are interconnected and one’s problem leeches out into the lives around them. Of course, if you take that sin to the cross and overcome by the resurrected life of Christ offered you, your spiritual revival will affect those around you as well.

The Israelites are commanded to purge from their midst anyone who is worshiping other gods, who might lead astray others in the Israelite family.

That’s the seriousness of your sin.

Maybe you know it’s sin. Maybe you’ve justified it so much you have tried to convince yourself it’s not sin. If it’s controlling your actions, it’s sin. It’s become too important in your life.

Purge it out of your life before you need purging! Do it for the love of family. Do it for the love of God.

Romans 8:5-8 

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Is your mind set on life or death? Are you choosing to please God or not?

These are stark contrasts and they boil down to a choice we make as to how we will live.

You’ve made the general choice; now make the minute-to-minute choice of submitting it all to His will.

Keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep your mind set on the Spirit. Choose life over death!