Pray.

Reading: Prov 1:10-14.

Meditation.

In our last few meditations, we have learned a few insights into how our sinful nature generally works. It is self-centred, it is greedy, and in verses 13 and 14 we now also see that sin is evangelistic. God has made us to be social creatures. We are designed to live in community, and we naturally reach out to other people to connect, to love, and to live. That connection is designed to be a powerful force for good, but sadly our sinful nature can also use those connections to be a force for evil as well. In our passage we see an example of this as Solomon warns his son against being enticed to fall in line with sinners. There is a call to action in these verses: “Come with us… throw in your lot among us”, and the call comes with a tempting motivation to reward: “we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder.”

In this passage, we see thieves trying to draw a young simpleton into their way of life, but the same principle holds true for you in your life as well. The world will not leave you to yourself, it will constantly be seeking to draw you in to its ways. Vanity-Fair will offer all manner of temptations, it will bait the hook of sin with every possible enticement seeking to draw you in. When the world tempts you to love the things of this world, be wary. If there is anything in your life that is tempting you and luring you away from Christ as your first love, flee from that thing. Do not walk in the way of with sinners, hold back your feet from the paths of the world. Do not abandon the world, and do not cease to bring the gospel to lost sinners, but keep an ear open for worldly evangelists as well, and when you hear them coming – close the door of your heart to temptation.

Be ye doers of the word…

As I’ve already said, and as scripture teaches, we cannot take ourselves out of the world. We ought not to try. We are called to engage the world, and to do good to all people (Gal 6:10). As we live in the world, however, we must be careful to guard our hearts – because the world will lay things before us designed to entice us into sin. The application in all of this is simply to avoid sin and temptation. As Jesus said to his disciples in Gethsemane “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

When you notice a worldly enticement has some pulling power on your heart, be especially careful to avoid it. Run, like Joseph ran from Potiphar’s wife. Avoid such enticements like a deadly plague. Run from them as though they were a pack of wild dogs trying to tear you apart! Because that is what they are. As verse 15 says: “my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths.” Remove enticing godless influences from your life. SDG.

Prayer of Confession & Consecration.

Dear Lord, as I look back on the life that I have lived, I can readily think of many times when I have allowed the enticing power of the world to lead me into sin. Even now, as I consider my way of life, I can see still that there are various entertainments and enticements that would draw my eyes away from Christ, down from that which is above, and would set my mind and affections on that which is below. Lord, please forgive me for my sins, and help me now to set my mind on Christ above, seated at the right hand of God. Please fill my heart with love for him who died for me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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