DAY 17: LITTLE FOXES II

PHRONESIS DEVOTIONAL

30 DAYS DEVOTIONAL WITH PREACHER SAM

September 17, 2023.

Topic: LITTLE FOXES II

Bible Reading: Genesis 13:1-18

Verse for Meditation: Song of Songs 8:4 MSG

Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem: Don’t excite love, don’t stir it up, until the time is ripe—and you’re ready.

We see in Genesis 12 of how God blessed Abram. In chapter 13, we see how Lot was blessed because of Abram. In chapter 14, we see how Lot lost all his possessions and how Abram helped him recover all; he lost all because at that time he was no longer with Abram. And we didn’t hear of Lot until chapter 19 when Sodom was destroyed, and this time he lost al without recovery. His daughters had incest with him and had children from him that ended up becoming Israel’s enemy. What can we make out of all these?

Lot was blinded by his own lust and could not see beyond the natural, he saw that Sodom and Gomorrah was like the garden of the Lord. Sodom was appealing to his natural senses, though he chose to dwell in the Jordan valley which was near Sodom. No doubt Sodom was more appealing than Canaan; Canaan had experience famine (Gen. 12:10), that Abram had to temporarily relocate to Egypt (Gen. 13:1). But Lot did not know that it is not about the environment, but the association. Lot was blessed because of his association with Abram.

The Bible says that the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord, but Lot still chose to dwell near there. That is the case of many of us, the Bible is clear when it says that we should abstain from anything that appears evil (1Thess. 5:22). But we feel we can handle it. Are we more spiritual than God who gave the instruction?

The Bible also clearly warns us to flee from youthful lusts (2Tim. 2:22); that is, ‘run away from every desires of youth.’ But like Lot, some feel that can be handled. Believers cohabiting when they are not married are near Sodom. See let us not deceive ourselves, “Let God be true but every man a liar.” (Rom. 3:4), “Can a man take fire to his bosom and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared?” (Prov. 6:27-28). Fine I may believe you that nothing physically happened, but you cannot deny the fact that you were aroused and your mind was engaged in lustful thought. Why awaken love when the time is not yet right?

Lot believed he could handle it but in chapter 14:12, he was already in Sodom. The little foxes had ruined the vineyard. Being in the wrong association can corrupt your moral conduct (1Cor. 15:33). “Have no confidence in the flesh.” (Phil. 3:3); David though he could handle seeing Bathsheba having her bath, but one sin begot another sin, and then another sin. From lustful thinking to adultery, to murder. God knows you can’t handle it that is why He advised you not to trust yourself but avoid and flee from all evil desires. You are not wiser than God.

We didn’t hear anything about Lot after his rescue until chapter 19; the Bible says that he was still in Sodom. But this time, he lost all and his daughters had incest with him. Being in the wrong environment did not just affect him; it also affected his two daughters.

The influence from the wrong environment is what is energising you to sin. Change your environment; and your desire to sin will change. Some of you need to cut ties with those friends that always encourage you to sin, some have to intentionally un-follow some social media pages that arouses your sexual urge, while some will have to relocate to a better place where nudity is not the order of the day.

PRAYER:

DEAR FATHER, I KNOW I CAN’T DO THIS ON MY OWN EXCEPT YOU HELP ME. PLEASE DO, FOR CHRIST’S SAKE. AMEN!

DECLARATION:

FROM TODAY, I TAKE ACTION TO ALWAYS GUARD MY HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE.

Bible Reading Plan: John 14:16-15:27; Ephesians 3; Proverbs 17