READING: Proverbs 6:20-8:36, 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:6
Over the years, I’ve paid attention to the sad stories of ministers who’ve fallen morally. Their stories are reminders that all of us are vulnerable to the enemy’s arrows. All of us are susceptible to the lures of lust—and to think otherwise is to stand on dangerous ground.
Indeed, I have never met a man who leapt off the cliff into a fall; rather, many who’ve succumbed to temptation did so gradually, sliding down the cliff in an almost imperceptible way. They slowly allowed sin to erode their heart into numbness over their wrong. Hence, these words of warning from the writer of Proverbs are both relevant and wise: “Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned? Can a man walk on burning coals without scorching his feet?” (Prov 6:27-28). As this writer points out, we’re only going to get in trouble if we put ourselves in a place of temptation and vulnerability. If we play with fire, we will get burned.
I pray that these words will be more than words for us. I pray we will take them to heart and live wisely.
PRAYER: “Lord, I need You to guard me against playing with fire. Give me wisdom to make right choices.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Proverbs 9-11, 2 Corinthians 4:7-5:15
