Do not let them live in your land or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you.
Exodus 23:33

In Exodus 23:20-33, God tells the Israelites how He plans on getting them to the promise land, how big it is, and what they are to do when they get there. It ends with a warning in verse 33 about making sure that the original inhabitants are gone or else, they will cause them to follow other gods and sin against the Lord.

In our fight against the sin in our lives, it is very important not to let any sin take root. Even the smallest seed of sin can grow and have huge consequences for you. It might seem to have no consequences right now, but it will (James 1:15). Eve took one bite of the fruit and she spiritually died.

This is why Jesus is so adamant that we are vigilant and, if necessary, take drastic measures to stop ourselves from sinning (Matthew 18:7-9)

Be vigilant and check yourself daily if you are sinning by asking God to reveal sin that you might not be aware that you are doing (Psalm 139:23-24). Repent, ask for forgiveness, and ask God to help you overcome.

Sin comes from the heart and is a reflection of one’s desires (Matthew 15:18-20). The only way to defeat sin is to love God more and have the Holy Spirit will help you. The more you love God, the more your desires are in line with God’s and the more undesirable sin becomes.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8