Today’s 333 Devotional: “Don’t Dilly Dally”

“Remove your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one.” (Proverbs 5:8-9)

Through Solomon the Lord is giving instructions to His children concerning sexually immoral behavior. He is telling us to remove ourselves from everything that leads and lends itself to this behavior. In fact, the Lord says not even to go near it, that is, don’t loiter by its door thinking it is okay, that somehow just a glance won’t hurt.

It does, and so the Apostle Paul warns his protégé, Timothy, in much the same way to stay away.

“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

Paul is telling Timothy to turn around and to run as quickly as he can in the opposite direction. But it wasn’t to be just anywhere; rather he was to run to those who love God with a purity of heart. And instead of pursuing the world, he should pursue a life of godly devotion instead.

When we don’t do what we’re told, we give our honor, that is, we give away the beauty of our life in the Lord to others, placing ourselves under the whip of a cruel taskmaster called Satan.

Sin ruins our testimony and destroys our lives, and it opens us up to no end of sorrow and grief.

Therefore, let’s not dilly-dally with sin any longer; it’s too serious, even as believers in Jesus Christ. If we don’t think it can happen to us, that somehow, we’re safe in the four walls of the church, then we need to think again.

Solomon said. “I was on the verge of total ruin, in the midst of the assembly and congregation.” (Proverbs 5:14)

Therefore, let’s get serious and pray what Jesus taught, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver from evil.”