Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- August 27, 2010
“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” Genesis 3:6
We cannot feed our body poor quality food and large quantities of food and not be unaffected. Thus, eat to live don’t live to eat. Good health is a gift from God. Steward it well and wisely. Budget your diet as you do your money. Your physical well-being is one of your best investments. Better to pay a personal trainer now, than a surgeon later.
The same goes for your optical intake. Do not allow your eyes to feast on someone or something that you cannot have. Why place yourself is a position of compromise? If you travel, hire an intern of the same sex for accountability and apprenticeship. You may need to remove your television and/or computer from your home for a season, so you are not bombarded by temptation. Appreciate the beauty your eyes behold, but do not desire or crave its object. Unbridled curiosity can easily cripple your commitment to Christ.
Furthermore, knowledge is designed for God’s purposes. Keep your motive for wisdom pure. Make it your goal to attain wisdom, so you can obey God precisely and wholeheartedly. Let your understanding of information be used to the advantage of serving and loving God and people. Temptation never goes away, until we go to glory.
It started in the Garden of Eden and it continues today. Even in the best of environments, like sinless paradise, temptation still crouches at the door. There is no completely encapsulated ‘temptation free’ zone. However, you can still be smart and not place yourself in a position that feeds and facilitates temptation. You may need to break off that ‘friendship’, or quit confiding in a co-worker about your marital problems (seek professional help instead). Innocent flirting can easily lead to not so innocent infidelity.
Temptation is a fire waiting to destroy. Do not go close to its flickering flames. Instead, draw closer to the warmth of God’s love and to those who love you the most. Yes indeed, frustrations feeds falling into temptation, but reject this excuse. Invite the Holy Spirit to douse temptations fires. Let people who care know what you are thinking and doing. We do better when others are watching. The consequences of giving in to temptation are crushing. The fruit of following Jesus is rich, rewarding and satisfying. Reject the tempter and accept your Savior Jesus. Never forget, the bait has a hook!
Related Readings: Matthew 4:1; 26:41; Luke 11:4; 1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:13-15
Boyd Bailey is the author of Wisdom Hunters daily devotional and two devotional books, Infusion and Seeking Daily the Heart of God
