Session 24

How to avoid getting pulled in again

From Proverbs: A 31-Day Devotional

Few things are as terrifying as being swept up by a riptide or strong current. Before you realize what’s happening, you are out of control, at the mercy of the ocean current. Caught in the current, a person can get sucked away 10 feet per second — far too fast to swim back to shore. If you are fortunate enough to be rescued, expect to be badly shaken and possibly injured.

Riptides are dangerous. They are also completely avoidable. At beaches where riptides happen frequently, signs warn swimmers and surfers not to venture into certain areas. Meteorologists can predict weather conditions that create strong currents and advise us about when and where swimming could be dangerous.

Temptation often comes at us like a riptide. We’re swimming along just fine, when all of a sudden something tugs us in another direction. We’re swimming hard, but we’re getting nowhere.

Thankfully, the Bible provides us with warning signs and instructions on how to avoid the pain and destruction of giving in to sin (Proverbs 7:21-23). The same way a meteorologist understands the weather, God is the expert on sin and the human condition. He made us, and one of the best ways to protect ourselves from temptation is to immerse ourselves in the truth of His Word (Proverbs 7:1-5 and Proverbs 7:24-25).

We protect ourselves from temptation by immersing ourselves in the truth of God’s Word.

A high regard for Scripture is the best protection against sin. That’s the warning the father gives his son in Proverbs 7 when he says to love wisdom like a sister and make insight a beloved member of the family. We can choose to ignore warning signs and make excuses, or we can steer clear of temptation entirely.

Learning by experience is effective, but often painful. Wouldn’t you rather stay out of the water out of Scripture-based empowerment rather than being driven by the crippling fear of past experience?

Reflect:

• Is there a temptation that pulls you in like a riptide? How can you combat this based on the principles the father gives his son in Proverbs 7?
• What is one habit you can start to make sure you are maintaining familiarity with God’s voice through Scripture?