Text- Proverbs 1:10– “My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them”
There are many valuable advices in the Bible, but the one in our text today is of prime value, especially in days like this where enticements are alarmingly rampant. When you walk on the streets, you would literally face a thousand and one enticements! Even in the comfort of your own home, you hardly can put on your TV, or surf the internet without being enticed.
It seems to me that sinners are usually not content with their own sinful lives; they do not want to go to hell alone- they want as many accompaniments as possible. That is why they will constantly proliferate everywhere possible with enticements to sin.
You see, you don’t have to ‘break any rule’ to face enticements. But while you may not be able to determine what the devil will throw at you to persuade, deceive or seduce you to sin, you reserve the right to decide how you respond to those enticements. In other words, it is you who would ultimately decide whether or not to give in.
Beloved, what God is saying to you today is that no matter how much the world bombards you with enticements, do not give in. No matter how much you are tempted to sin, resist!
But you see, the ability/inability to resist temptation is not something that suddenly comes on you when you are faced with enticements. James 1:14 says, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed”… This implies that the enticement of sinners is not enough to draw you to sin, except it is confirmed by the enticement of your own lusts.
Weymouth New Testament Bible renders James 1:14 this way, “But when a man is tempted, it is his own passions that carry him away and serve as a bait.” So then, you must constantly evaluate your passions and your desires… that is where the predisposition to give in comes from when sinners entice you.
1 John 2:16 puts all forms of sinful enticements into three categories – The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The lust of the flesh refers mainly to love of physical pleasure; the lust of the eyes refers mainly to greed and covetousness; the pride of life refers mainly to penchant for achievements and accolades.
The moment you begin to indulge yourself in any sinful desire, passion or fantasy along these lines, you have already predisposed yourself to fall when sinners bring enticement to your doorstep. Let’s put it this way, “opportunity would meet preparation”
As you go out today, be watchful of the desires and passions you entertain in your mind. In the same vein, be wary of enticements and refuse to give in. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
Keep a cool head. Stay alert. Do not give in. Shalom!
PRAYERS
1. Father, grant me the grace not to give in to enticements and temptations in Jesus Name.
2. Lord Jesus, please purify my heart. Uproot every sinful passion and desire from my heart in Jesus Name.
3. Lord, help me to keep a cool head and to be alert at all times so that I will not be carried away by sinful enticements.
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