Date: Monday, 26th May, 2025
Text: Proverbs 23:31-33
Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan
Exhortation:
The ordinances and commandments of God are not meant to restrict us from ‘enjoying life’ as some erroneously think. The precepts of God are meant to guide us away from pitfalls that are not immediately realized by the human heart.
A friend of mine shared a personal ugly experience he once had. Before then, he believed there was nothing wrong in being found in certain places that do not represent one’s values. He didn’t realize that doing so may misrepresent you and make others misjudge you.. That was exactly what happened to him.
He had been going to visit friends wherever they chose to hang out including beer palours, though he didn’t drink alcohol, he was comfortable with the environment. One day he was there as usual and all us of sudden a band of policemen stormed the beer joint, in search of a criminal suspect and everybody they met there was arrested.
For the first time in his life he slept overnight in a police cell for an offense he knew nothing about. It was then it dawned on him that he wasn’t supposed to be found in a place which didn’t represent what he stood for.
There is an adage in Yoruba which says, you shouldn’t smell what you don’t plan to eat. Doing so may trigger your appetite and get you tempted to eat it. Sin may seem pleasurable and harmless at the beginning but the end result is always regrettable.
The word of God says, “Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things.” Proverbs 23:31-33
When the word of God says we should flee from every appearances of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22), it could be to protect us from being framed up into things we know nothing about.
It is indeed wise to live a holy life.
Prayer nugget: Father, I ask for abundant grace to live in holiness all the way in Jesus name.
Bible in One Year: Esther 1-10