Daily Reading
Daily Thought
The serpent spoke to Eve, “Did God actually say…” (Genesis 3:1). That’s the voice of temptation and sin still talks to us, “transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart” (Psalm 36:1). We were made in God’s image, so we must be deceived to sin. “You will not surely die,” said the serpent. “You will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5). The lie is not that we don’t know, but that God is somehow not the final word. Every sin is deception, “there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.” (Psalm 36:1-2). We deceive ourselves that no one is watching, or that what we do does not matter–“Why can’t I if it doesn’t hurt anyone?”
It does, and always God first.
Our best defense against sin, therefore, is not willpower, but worship, finding our delight in God’s delight, “for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). The fruit of the tree was delight to Eve’s eyes, but a lesser delight. Rather she would delight herself “in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4), transforming our corrupted desires as we “drink from the river of your delights” (Psalm 36:8). Drink often and drink deep and temptation’s flavor turns sour.
Daily Prayer
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep.
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.
Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart! Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. ~Psalm 36:5-11
Amen
Daily Question
Can you sin without hurting anyone?