To Long For Or To Lust For
Wednesday, August 13
Proverbs 7:15-18 (NKJV)
“So I came out to meet you, diligently to seek your face, and I have found you. I have spread my bed with tapestry, colored coverings of Egyptian linen. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with love.”
Devoción
If we were to isolate verse 15 by itself, we could certainly be talking about the Holy Spirit. “When we seek Him, we shall find Him.” (Jeremiah 29:13) But this is an evil imitation. In these verses, Solomon is portraying the immoral woman and her ploys and tactics she uses to allure and entice the simple and unsuspecting.
Pastor Franklin described her as “Lady Harlot.” She is a master at deception and intrigue. She knows how to bait her hooks for those seeking the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Flashy colors, attractive scents, and mystique of a hidden interlude. She is very crafty at appealing to a sensual man.
For men, it doesn’t take much to arouse the flesh with “eye candy.” In our world of sensual advertising, artificial intelligence, private computers, and personal phones, the temptation to “take a second look” and linger too long is overwhelming.
We see what happened to David. Though a man “after God’s own heart,” and though Bathsheba was not an immoral woman, David took too many looks and lingered far too long, with disastrous results for his kingdom.
God has given us wonderful, vivid imaginations. But as believers, if we do not guard them to keep them pure from the barrage of images and deadly lures, they will get corrupted and vain.
When Solomon was penning Proverbs, the Holy Spirit gave him all those wonderful words of imagery and pictures to get the point across. The Holy Spirit allowed Himself to be portrayed as a female. A female to be highly sought after. A female to be pursued and worth spending time with. Where we long to be with Him. The Holy Spirit will never entice us, nor tempt us to partake in evil and wantonness, yet He will certainly “woo us” to Him, not with lust but with spiritual hunger and thirst; a longing only fulfilled by Him.
“Blessed is the man who listens to Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting at the posts of My doors. For whoever finds Me, finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord.” (Proverbs 8:34-35).
Oración de hoy
Querido Padre Celestial,
How I deeply lament that the physical intimacy You gave as a gift for husband and wife is so often used outside of the marriage bed. I lament the adultery, the lust, the porn, and all the other ways mankind schemes against You. Help me maintain my repentance from these sins. Help me flee so quickly, I do not even hear or read so many enticing words, quickly averting my eyes and using my feet to find a safer place. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Aplíquelo hoy mismo
In today’s verses, the harlot was seeking out the target of her temptation. Decide today, ahead of time, that when an image or evil invitation presents itself to you, you will not entertain it nor accept shame from temptation. Instead, look away quickly, decline quickly. Block such a contact on your social media. Then tell someone – your spouse if you’re married, a mentor or trusted friend if you’re not. Light is the enemy of darkness, and you will find strength and encouragement.
Recursos
- Watch this message, “Purity”, and commit yourself to living a life that is pure in both word and deed
- Fasting is a powerful way to overcome the lust of the flesh. Here are some Fasting Resources to help you in your pursuit of righteousness.