Proverbs 23:26-28 ESV
“My son, give me your heart,
and let your eyes observe my ways.
For a prostitute is a deep pit;
an adulteress is a narrow well.
She lies in wait like a robber
and increases the traitors among mankind.”
A prostitute is usually defined as someone who engages in
sex in exchange for money, and/or it is a person who is devoted to corrupt purposes.
But some of the synonyms include “cheapen, degrade, demoralize, pervert, deteriorate,
and profane,” so I think that “prostitute” can have a broader definition. I
think we can define it as anyone who degrades, demoralizes, and perverts
themselves for sensual pleasure and for selfish gain.
And a prostitute doesn’t even have to be an alive and in
person person. A prostitute can be an image or a video on a screen or in a
magazine, or it can be a story one reads in a book. It can be anything or
anyone which is enticing and alluring and tempting you to be led astray into
sin. And the prostitute can be oneself, and the prostitution be in one’s own
mind and heart if one demoralizes oneself for sensual pleasure and for selfish
gain.
And it isn’t just men who are enticed by such things as this.
Many women are now engaged in such things as this, too. And this includes the
viewing of pornography and sexually charged movies and videos, and sexually
alluring songs or conversations with others, or flirtations with others, or
extra-marital affairs (romantic and/or sexual), and sensual stories and
self-gratification, too, or any other perverted expressions of sensual
pleasure.
We are not to give our hearts, our eyes, and/or our bodies
to such things as this. For, as followers of Jesus Christ, our lives are to be
pure and holy and righteous and for the praise and glory of God and not for
sensual pleasure and for selfish gain. Our eyes are to be fixed on Jesus who is
the author and the perfecter of our faith, and our eyes and minds and bodies are
not to stray from our pure devotion to Christ or from our spouses.
Proverbs 23:29-35 ESV
“Who has redness of eyes?
Those who tarry long over wine;
those who go to try mixed wine.
Do not look at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup
and goes down smoothly.
In the end it bites like a serpent
and stings like an adder.
Your eyes will see strange things,
and your heart utter perverse things.
You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
like one who lies on the top of a mast.
‘They struck me,’ you will say, ‘but I was not hurt;
they beat me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake?
I must have another drink.’”
We can be intoxicated to strong drink, but we can also be
intoxicated to sensual pleasure, or to “falling in love,” or to many other types
of sinful addiction. Anything which takes control over our minds and bodies and
which leaves us senseless and captivated to sin is intoxicating. Anything which
leads us to be out of control instead of exercising self-control is
intoxicating. So, we must guard our minds and hearts against them all.
For that is a horrible, horrible place to be. And it is
miserable. And it is pointless and empty, and nothing good ever comes from it,
but only more misery and heartache and pain and suffering, if not for oneself,
then for others who are hurt by it. For we never sin alone or to ourselves
only. Our sins end up impacting others in one way or another. For if we live
for ourselves and for sensual pleasure, others do get hurt by it.
But if that is the path that you choose for yourself, then
please know that no profession of faith in Jesus Christ is going to secure
heaven for you. For if you walk in sin, making sin and sensual pleasure your
practice, then you are not going to inherit eternal life with God. For we are
either enslaved to sin or we are slaves of God and his righteousness. Either we
obey sin in practice, which leads to death, not life eternal, or we obey
obedience, which leads to righteousness and sanctification, and its end eternal
life (Romans 6:1-23).
So, the encouragement here today is to surrender your hearts
to Jesus Christ. Die with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness.
Obey his commands (New Covenant), and do not stray from them. Forsake your
lives of sin to follow Jesus Christ wherever he leads you. And he will empower
you from on high to resist the devil and to flee temptation and to draw near to
God in full assurance of faith. For Jesus died on that cross that we might die
with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness (1 Peter 2:24).
Pray,
Pray, Pray
An
Original Work / September 6, 2012
Based
off Various Scriptures
Pray that eyes may enlightened be,
So they may know Christ.
Pray that they may Him better know,
Strengthened by His pow’r.
Pray that they may grasp
How wide and long
And high and deep
Is Christ’s love.
Pray that they may be filled
To the fullness of God’s love.
Pray with thanksgiving.
Pray for an open door for me,
So I may share Christ.
Pray when the gospel is proclaimed –
Shared with clarity.
Pray words are given me so
I declare the gospel fearlessly.
I pray for you to be active
Sharing your faith, too.
Pray continually.
We oft not know for what to pray,
So we ask for help.
The Spirit intercedes for us –
Words cannot express.
Just keep on praying for the saints
With all kinds of requests to God.
Pray they may have faith to
Please their God in ev’ry way.
Pray with joyfulness.
No comments:
Post a Comment