Read Proverbs 5
Today I read Proverbs 5 in the New Living Translation and Message.
There are so many temptations in the world. What makes them tempting is the allure, they look good or promise to make us feel good. Then there's the lie or enticement that no one will know, and no one will be hurt. None of this is true.
Proverbs 5 is about adultery, lust, seduction, entrapment, the cost, and the admonishment to avoid it.
It begins by telling us to pay close attention to wisdom, to listen to it so you'll have good sense. In other words, when we have wisdom and let it guide our steps we will make good choices, choices that honor God.
It's easy to see and understand adultery between a man and a woman, having sex outside of marriage with someone other than your spouse. Of course, there's also emotional entanglement, lies, and cover ups. Adultery doesn't just impact the two people committing it, it also impacts family when the deception is exposed, and know this, it will be exposed!
"Whatever you have spoken in the darkness shall be heard and listened to in the light, and what you have whispered in [people’s] ears and behind closed doors will be proclaimed upon the housetops." (Luke 12:3 AMPC)
"For there is nothing hidden that shall not be disclosed, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come out into the open." (Luke 8:17 AMPC)
Did you know we can commit adultery in our relationship with God?
How, you may wonder:
Looking for fulfillment from anything other than God. (Take a look at where you spend your time and money, and you'll get a clear picture of what and who is important to you!)
Idolatry (Giving anything or anyone more attention or honor than God)
When we allow things to replace Him in our affections (Checking social media or emails when we first get up instead of checking the Bible app!)
Spending more time with things than Him (i.e. social media, games, clubs, the internet, etc.)
When we turn to others instead of God sometimes making Him our last resort instead of our first resort (I've learned to ask God who I can share this with, who will stand in prayer with me, because everyone isn't always for us. Some want to see us fall or fail. Some aren't about restoration but destruction.)
Ministry, when doing ministry becomes more important than spending time with God to be equipped for ministry.
Disobedience
Choosing sin
We, believers, are the bride of Christ. We are in a relationship with Him. He showed us His love through Jesus. We show our love when we accept Jesus as Savior and make Him Lord of our lives. This love means we've pledged our hearts to Him. Making Him Lord means we strive to be like Him, we put Him first, we live for Him. We reflect Him. So, just like adultery can happen in the natural it can, and sadly does, happen spiritually.
"This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one." (Ephesians 5:32 NLT) (Read Ephesians 5:21-33 for full context)
Marriage reflects the relationship between Christ and the church which is why the enemy works so hard to destroy marriages and families. We can't let him win. Choose honor and integrity in all your relationships, especially your marriage. Teach your children about the sanctity of marriage. Understand that your choices not only impact your spouse and children, but they also impact those watching you.
We should honor our vows in marriage and honor our relationship with God.
God has equipped us to resist temptation. There is always a way out:
"For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently." (I Corinthians 10:13 AMPC)
The verse that spoke to me:
"Dear friend, pay close attention to this, my wisdom; listen very closely to the way I see it. Then you’ll acquire a taste for good sense; what I tell you will keep you out of trouble." (Proverbs 5:1-2 MSG)
Attention - qâshab, to prick up the ears, i.e. hearken:—attend, (cause to) hear(-ken), give heed, incline, mark (well), regard (Strong's H7181)
Attention - The act of attending or heeding; the due application of the ear to sounds, or of the mind to objects presented to its contemplation (Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary)
My takeaway:
Whatever has my attention has me. The more time I spend in the Word the more my life will reflect God's Word. I want people to see Jesus in me and the only way that can happen is through loving and living in His Word.
FAITH CONFESSION:
Lord, help me to pay attention to Your Word and gain wisdom from Your Word that I can use to reflect Your Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Thank You that through Your Word I will acquire good sense and it will keep me out of trouble. Forgive me for the times I've put anything ahead of You and our relationship. I will honor You day by day. With Your help I will realign my priorities focusing on bringing You glory. My heart's desire is for Your will to be done in me and through me. I surrender my will. I want to represent Your Kingdom well.
NOTE OF GRACE AND HOPE: To anyone who has committed the sin of adultery there is hope. We serve a loving and forgiving God. He's merciful and full of grace. His love for you is firmly rooted in the price paid on Calvary. Ask for forgiveness (1st John 1:9) because He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Hold on to the new mercies He grants daily (Lamentations 3:22-23). And finally, there's no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Repent! Turn from the sin and move forward in Christ.
Share in the comments what verse spoke to you and why. Let's grow in wisdom together.
Be Encouraged! ❤
Proverbs 5:21
"For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and,He examines all your paths."
My Takeaway:
I may think that no one is seeing what I do behind closed doors, but God is always there. He is looking at the decisions I am making whether I'm following His lead or not. I cannot hide my behavior from God.
Proverbs 5:21 (GNT). The Lord sees everything you do. Wherever you go, He is watching.
Sometimes the enemy will sneak in with something that we don’t think of as committing spiritual adultery. In this modern fast-paced world, we need always to be on guard for those things we may be doing and not realizing we are putting things or people before God. Father, forgive me for when I‘ve looked to someone else to feed me when I should be looking to You for my spiritual food. I got caught up in this during the past year and just recently, the Lord showed me that I had placed someone I had been listening to (a preacher and prophet’s words) above…