TEMPTATION
II Samuel 11:2-3a
"Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman."
The problem was not the king's insomnia, nor the woman's private bathing, nor the woman's beauty, nor the accidental view from the roof-top. It was the lingering gaze and eventual pursuit of the woman that caused the problem. It is difficult to avoid seeing such images, especially in such a blatantly sexualized society as ours. Surfing the TV channels will often show indecent and inappropriate scenes. Uninvited pornography pops up on the computer. What do I do with these situations? Do I linger there, or go back for another look, or even seek out more? What I do with accidental encounters is the issue. This I know: "Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death" (James 1:14-15). Conception happens by laying together with it. The best way to avoid sin is to refuse to sleep with the temptation.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Temptation is unavoidable, but the pursuit of it is not.
[end]
Have a chaste day. Love you.
II Samuel 11:2-3a
"Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman."
The problem was not the king's insomnia, nor the woman's private bathing, nor the woman's beauty, nor the accidental view from the roof-top. It was the lingering gaze and eventual pursuit of the woman that caused the problem. It is difficult to avoid seeing such images, especially in such a blatantly sexualized society as ours. Surfing the TV channels will often show indecent and inappropriate scenes. Uninvited pornography pops up on the computer. What do I do with these situations? Do I linger there, or go back for another look, or even seek out more? What I do with accidental encounters is the issue. This I know: "Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death" (James 1:14-15). Conception happens by laying together with it. The best way to avoid sin is to refuse to sleep with the temptation.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Temptation is unavoidable, but the pursuit of it is not.
[end]
Have a chaste day. Love you.
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