Reading through the book of Deuteronomy, I kept noticing the phrase, “you shall purge the evil from your midst.” As God’s chosen people, the Israelites were far from perfect themselves but over and over God warned them about not becoming entangled with those around them. He warned them that disobedience to Him or obedience to the ways of the Gentiles around them would lead them eventually away from Him and into idolatry. God seemingly took a hard line on things we either simply wring our hands over or even accept. I’m not suggesting we stone rebellious children or adulterous couples but I am suggesting we have very much become like the unbelieving people amongst whom we live. How different are we than others in our neighborhood other than maybe we go to church on Sunday? Our great-grandparents would shudder to see how far our society has slidden towards evil and the reduced contrast between believer and non-believer. Over generations. with mini-compromises and baby steps than seem almost imperceptible, we have allowed evil in our midst. I am not just talking of our culture – but even our own hearts – I mean we don’t like to think of it as evil but every time we choose our own way – we rebel against a Holy God. I can’t answer this for you, but you can. Will you take 5 minutes sometime today to ask God in what ways you have allowed evil in your midst? Thanks be to God we have a Savior.
Blessings, Diane
Diane Hunt is part of the Development and Addiction Recovery teams at America’s Keswick. In addition to being a Biblical Counselor, she is a Women’s speaker for retreats, conferences and events. She is a regular writer for Victory Call and one of the authors of Crossing the Jordan Bible Study. She has been married to her husband John over 28 years. She has 2 adult children and 3 grandchildren and 3 adult step-children with 7 grandchildren making 10 in all. She delights reading and teaching, but mostly laughing at the funny things her grandchildren say and do.
Victory Call 
Dear Diane,
This writing today really “hit home” with me.
Having been divorced since 2004 – but still very, very close with my former husband, the father of all of my children –
I had prayed for many years for a wonderful, G-dly husband. I was lonely and yearned for a marital partner.
Shortly after my father passed last year — at a time when we, as a family, were devastated and missing him terribly —
I met “the man of my dreams”. He was kind, attentive, very successful, educated, humorous, generous – well, I could
go on and on, but the main point is, he was the type of “husband material” I had longed for seemingly forever!
He asked me out for dinner, I thrillingly accepted, and several months and many dates later, he asked me to become engaged. The diamond ring was stunning – and huge!!!!! Yet, I had permitted myself to be wooed in “territory” where
I should not have tread, for this dear man believed in G-d, but was not a believer in the Messiah Jesus.
I balked. I tried to rationalize. I attempted to “twist” Scripture into thinking that this precious man was not an unequal
yoke because he did believe in G-d. Trouble was, he didn’t believe in the Triune G-d, and I was treading on ground which
Scripture warned me was not where I was to be. Likewise, the husband “of my youth” was still alive and, frankly, I was
uncomfortable bringing a “stepfather” into my children’s lives while their Daddy was still on this earth. I just didn’t feel
a “peace” about it all.
Now, Diane, I am not at ALL suggesting that I was leaving “evil” in my midst. I was, however, leaving a crack of
disbelief into my life and into the life of my family. It was difficult to hear from this man that he just couldn’t believe
in Jesus as Messiah – it was difficult to realize that he could not be my husband. STILL, we must be faithful to what
G-d asks of us. We must be obedient. There will be times when His ways do not seem as rational as our desires, but
obedience to His commands and requests ALWAYS will bring rewards. “What good is gaining the whole world if we
lose our souls?” And – we do risk losing our holiness, our righteousness, and our pathway to G-d if we surround ourselves
with non-believers or even with proclaimed believers who do not live G-dly lives.
Well, dear Diane, thank you for “listening” to my experience – and thank you, as well, for this beautiful thought for
today. It is a crucially important lesson.
Stephanie L. Dickinson
B.S.Min., B.S.B.S., CCLC, CPAC
Lancaster, Pa.