Day 194: Proverbs 7, 8 and 9

She seduced him with her smooth talk. (Proverbs 7:21)

Yesterday our theme was weighing the consequences. That's easier said than done. It's not like there's an even playing field. Our tendency is toward evil. It's our path of least resistance. Add to that temptation's powers of persuasion... it can be so seductive.

The question is not: How could anyone be so stupid as to fall for that? But: How could anyone resist? And yet, as Believers, the Apostle Paul makes it clear we should not live like sin is inevitable: You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature, but by the Spirit (Romans 8:9).

To have any hope of living morally in a hostile and ungodly world, we'd better have a plan. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, offers us this: Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God (Romans 6:11-13).

No, it's not an even playing field, but that doesn't mean we're done for. For sin shall no longer be your master (Romans 6:14).

She seduced him with her smooth talk. One place to start might be, Don't listen! Give the enemy and inch and you'll wake up filled with remorse and wondering, "What happened?"

Sin is a smooth talker. What's your plan?