Greetings fellow travelers, on the road to life, avoiding the pitfalls and dangers of the journey - and there are many! However, praise God! We have a road map filled with wisdom and direction, whose Author has traveled the road we walk. Isn't it incredible that God was here on planet Earth, and showed us the way we must walk to make it home! (1Peter 2:21)
This week's reading is a little longer, since the chapter breaks separate a lengthy passage that deals with one central theme: Adultery. The imagery in this passage is vivid, describing how a young man is led into sin, by the flattery of the seducing woman. The language is that of a very strong warning, using words like "destroys his own soul" (6:32) and "as an ox goes to slaughter" (7:22). The consequences of marital infidelity and lust are severe. This definitely has application for our culture today! I believe that this is possibly the primary application for this passage. I am also convinced that this passage has a very real secondary application - the temptation to fall victim to deception and spiritual adultery, which has even greater, eternal consequences.
As I was meditating on this week's reading, this verse came into my mind: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1Tim 4:1 King James Version). Seduction is the word for our age. We are being seduced by all kinds of things these days, but the most dangerous is spiritual seduction, luring us away from the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, rooted in the revelation of Scripture.
In 6:20-24, we find the importance of not forsaking, but "keeping" the law and the commands of mother and father. Which, Parents, is your primary function as parents - to instruct your children in the ways of the Lord. We are to "bind them continually upon our heart". Biblical teaching imparted by parents, will "lead" & "keep" (6:22) children on the right path, away from seducing spirits of deception. The commandments of scripture are a "lamp" and a "light" (6:23) ( see psalm 119:105 - the word), to keep us from the evil seductress, with her flattering tongue. Let me encourage parents with this observation, which is my own testimony also. You may not see the fruit of sowing the word of God into your children, with the immediacy you were expecting. But, I have observed that those seeds planted in children, always produce a harvest, often bringing a wayward child home, even after many years of wandering due to neglect of the implanted word. In a nutshell, God is faithful to bring prodigals home, because the word you planted in them is powerful! And does not return void! Be encouraged! Your teaching is "light" and "life" (6:23). At some point, maybe when you least expect it, often when the child is finding him/herself in the proverbial "pigpen", the light shines on the teaching you imparted many years earlier, and the child is convicted to return home, and live life according to the truth they learnt as a child. Let it be Lord!
In 6:25-35 - the dangers of straying from the teachings of the parents.
Chapter 7 begins again with the exhortation to children to keep the commandments of the parents and "live" (7:2). Wisdom and understanding are to be the pursuits of young people (7:4). Are we modelling that for our children? Are we "treasuring" the commandments planted in us? Do we still value the word of God as life and light? Are we calling "wisdom our sister" and "understanding our intimate friend"? I have seen another sad reality - parents wandering from the faith. Spiritual seduction is not only a problem for young people.
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