Reading: Psalms 140 - 141
My Verse: "Do not let me heart incline to any evil,
to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who work iniquity,
and let me not eat of their delicacies" (141:4)!
I cannot lie here. There are times when the things of this world, things that are not quite kosher (if I may use that word); things that do not quite fit into Your precepts, LORD God; things that would not fall under the "whatevers . . ." of Philippians 4:8, have a certain draw to them. They have an allure that piques one's interest and can easily lead one down that slippery path! They have that appearance of a "delicacy" - something that would be so delicious!
One always knows in one's heart of hearts that this "delicacy" is wrong. It does not seem to matter the culture or religious beliefs - we each of us know when something isn't right. It is like we have a built in radar that senses sin. Is this the conscience that You, LORD God placed in us? And yet, the draw is there. We want so much to indulge ourselves - "busy myself with wicked deeds."
This is addressed often in the Psalms.
"But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (Psalm 73:2,3).
"Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me . . ." (Psalm 19:13).
The third thought in this verse seems to indicate a reason for this danger - "in company with men who work iniquity." Isn't that a common maxim? "Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them" -W. Clement Stone. That is a biblical truth!
I Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived; "Bad company ruins good morals."
Proverbs 13:20 "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."
Psalm 1:1 "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers . . ."
Proverbs 22:24-25 "Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare."
Thank you for this, LORD God. Thank You for all the guidance You provide me in Your word. Thank You for the radar You have placed within me. You know how very dangerous sin can be for me. You know how it destroys us from within and damages and can even destroy all that we have - including our loved ones.
I cry out along with David "Do not let my heart incline to any evil."
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "Do not let me heart incline to any evil,
to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who work iniquity,
and let me not eat of their delicacies" (141:4)!
I cannot lie here. There are times when the things of this world, things that are not quite kosher (if I may use that word); things that do not quite fit into Your precepts, LORD God; things that would not fall under the "whatevers . . ." of Philippians 4:8, have a certain draw to them. They have an allure that piques one's interest and can easily lead one down that slippery path! They have that appearance of a "delicacy" - something that would be so delicious!
One always knows in one's heart of hearts that this "delicacy" is wrong. It does not seem to matter the culture or religious beliefs - we each of us know when something isn't right. It is like we have a built in radar that senses sin. Is this the conscience that You, LORD God placed in us? And yet, the draw is there. We want so much to indulge ourselves - "busy myself with wicked deeds."
This is addressed often in the Psalms.
"But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (Psalm 73:2,3).
"Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me . . ." (Psalm 19:13).
The third thought in this verse seems to indicate a reason for this danger - "in company with men who work iniquity." Isn't that a common maxim? "Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them" -W. Clement Stone. That is a biblical truth!
I Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived; "Bad company ruins good morals."
Proverbs 13:20 "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."
Psalm 1:1 "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers . . ."
Proverbs 22:24-25 "Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare."
Thank you for this, LORD God. Thank You for all the guidance You provide me in Your word. Thank You for the radar You have placed within me. You know how very dangerous sin can be for me. You know how it destroys us from within and damages and can even destroy all that we have - including our loved ones.
I cry out along with David "Do not let my heart incline to any evil."
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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