Proverbs 1:10: When Sinners Entice You...

I've restained myself from putting the main Bible verse at the top of this devotional (as I always do) for a purpose. Let me ask you a question this morning: how does the Bible finish the phrase, "When sinners entice you..."? Now, no cheating! Can you finish what that statement is according to the Bible, or not? If you can, congratulations. If you can't, don't worry. I'm sure you have every other Bible verse memorized.

What I want to look at today is this: how do we often finish that statement? We'll get to how the Bible finishes the statement in a moment, but let us first examine how our sinful hearts often finish it. I know for me, the phrase is often "when sinners entice you, follow their paths," or perhaps "when sinners entice you, give into their ways." So often, the enticement of those around me is extremely attractive. For me, I know that the constant temptation and peer pressure to gossip and complain is hard to get away from. For you, the specific temptation might be different, but nonetheless, all of us are surrounded by sinners (sometimes our own friends...) that entice us to do evil things. And many times our sinful flesh tells us to give in.

But the Bible doesn't finish the phrase with "give up." Rather, it gives us a more powerful exhortation: "My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent" (Proverbs 1:10). Rather than falling into enticement and giving up, the Bible commands us to stand firm even when those around us are encouraging us to sin. "When sinners entice you," the Bible says, "do not give in!" This is surely easier said than done, but it is something that we must do in order to avoid spiritual downfall in this life.

So, when's the last time you gave into sinners' enticement? Perhaps you found yourself complaining or gossiping last night because those around you were doing the same. Perhaps you friend got you to play an extra 2 hours of fortnite yesterday when you should have been studying for your biology test. Perhaps you had that fifth soda when your really didn't need it but you justified it because all of your work buddies had seven. Whatever it may be, my dear brother and sister, next time you are enticed by sinners, do not give in!