Unmingled With Evil

Romans 16:19 ...but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

In the Greek, the word "simple" in the above scripture means innocent or unmixed.  It could also mean not mingled.  When I became aware of these possible meanings for this word, it caused me to think a little differently about this scripture.

In our culture it can be difficult to be unmixed with what is evil.  It can be difficult to not get the things of this world mingled into our everyday lives.  The ways of the evil one are all around us, especially in the media, which we are bombarded with.  Because of what is before us on a regular basis it is often difficult to be innocent, unmixed or unmingled concerning evil.  Sometimes this stuff gets on us without us even being aware of it.

I asked God how do we keep this from happening to us.

1) Avoid the media and situations that can defile as much as possible.

2) Be filled with and attentive to the Holy Spirit.  As a result, when your soul is being assaulted with evil you will be very aware of it.  You will be vexed even as Lot was over the lawless deeds he saw and heard (2 Peter 2:7-8 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) )

3) Cleansing daily.  Daily come before God and ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse you of all the defilement of the day.  Just like in Jesus day they washed their feet because the dust of the road they were traveling on got on their feet.  We need to regularly have the dust/defilement of the day washed off of our souls.