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PUT AWAY THE EVIL PERSON 

  • Writer: Olufunmilayo Adekusibe
    Olufunmilayo Adekusibe
  • 12 minutes ago
  • 4 min read

Today’s Reading:

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

“But those who are outside, God judges. Therefore, put away from yourselves the evil person.”

(v.13)

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Many people do not like to associate with or live or keep company with anyone named or tagged as immoral or bad or involved in any form of unholiness, even by the world’s standard. There is a common saying, such as “show me your friend, and I will tell you who you are”, that comes readily to mind. Who you associate with or keep company with matters! In many cultures of the world, practices such as “casting out” from among people of the same tribe or community are common. In the religious world, the practice of excommunication is common, whereby a person is removed from fellowship in the church or from a group of believers. It is interesting to note that part of the punishments of wrongdoers among the Israelites then, especially for moral misconduct, was “put away” from among the people. In the list of judgments given to and led by Moses, to the Israelites by God was “put away the evil person from among you”. This is repeatedly repeated in Deut. 17:7; 19:19, 22:21, 24; 24:7. The offences for which people were to be put away included: bearing false witness, serving and worshipping other gods, shameful conduct (not found a virgin by the husband when married, harlotry, adultery, fornication) and for mistreating a brother kidnapped.


Scripturally, an “evil person” is also known as a “wicked one”, who is considered unrighteous and guilty of wilfully and purposely violating the standards of God. It is he who refuses to acknowledge or obey God’s commands and instructions, or who departs from his goodness and who interferes with man’s relationship with God. The devil (Satan) qualifies as the first (Gen. 3:1) and most horrible evil-being on earth.


The question is – what are the sources of evil?

The scripture in 1 Tim. 6:10 reads that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Other sources of evil are listed in Rom. 1:29 as: unrighteousness, sexual immorality, covetousness, wickedness, maliciousness, envy, strife, murder, deceit, etc. Anyone who is involved with any of these is considered an evil person.


The question is – why put away an evil person?

While it may sound discriminatory, it is best to put away an evil person for many reasons. In 1 Cor.15:33, Paul said that the Corinthian believers should not be deceived that evil company corrupts good habits. This statement has been proved over and over, even in the secular world. The chances of being corrupted by an evil person are very high because evil is very easy to copy. The devil loves to pollute and therefore would back up the evil person in the effort to win the righteous man to their side. It is easier to become a child of Satan than a child of God! Satan works overnight at the opportunity of such relationships. God is mocked when a believer associates or keeps company with an evil person. Also, his name is dragged in the mud and profaned. A believer who associates or keeps company with an evil person is totally disarmed and cannot effectively preach the gospel or win souls for Christ.


In today’s reading passage, Apostle Paul was particular about evil persons being put away from among believers. In verse 9, he admonished them not to keep company with sexually immoral people. He now categorically points out that he did not mean this with those of the world doing all the evil, because this will amount to them going out of the world. He said in v.13 that these will be judged by God. Rather, his current writing was to call their attention not to keep company with anyone named a brother (brethren), who was practising the listed evil. He said they were not even to eat with such a person (v.11), but rather they should put away from themselves the evil person. Darkness cannot cohabit with light! Anyone who has not accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour stands the chance of being named an evil person, belonging to the devil and his kingdom. Accept Jesus Christ and be free from the devil, and therefore enter the kingdom of light. Do not be put away like an evil person.

                                                                                    CHRISTIE KUPOLUYI



To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”

 If you said the prayer, Congratulations! You are welcome to the body of Christ. Prayerfully seek out a living church and meet the resident reverend, pastor, or priest.



Prayer:

  1. Almighty God, we appreciate you for your creation.

  2. Father, please accept our thanks for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins and evil doings.

  3. Precious Lord, thank you for forgiving us all our sins, blotting them out and delivering us to the kingdom of light.

  4. Lord, please teach and encourage believers in the church to run away from the evil doers who sneak into and pollute it.

  5. Lord, deliver our nation from the hands of the devil and all evil doers, so that it will serve You with fear.

 
 
 

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