Is anything stolen sweet?
Proverbs 9:17--My dad was a nighttime snacker. Until recently, I didn't wake up at night and eat--I do it much too often, now.
Another slice of cake. A couple forkfuls of beef stroganoff. A couple handfuls of chips. Sigh. The stolen snacks, eaten in the darkness always seem sweet, until the light of day shines on my regret.
While midnight nibbles might not be the end of the world, it's a reminder that the things we THINK we do in secret are not secret at all. There are reactions to those actions.
My snacking adds inches to my waist, but what about other actions done in secret? Actions that might have less innocuous repercussions?
Not stopping at a stop sign. Going over the speed limit. Not returning things (change, product) given to us in error. Taking credit for something we didn't do. Fudging on our taxes--just a little bit. These are some of the small things we might do that we think can be done in secret and no one will ever know.
Then there are the larger things. Pornography. Shoplifting. Cheating. Covering up for others in sin. Embezzlement. Not honoring a contract or commitment. These, too, many times can be done in secret, and no one will ever know.
But, is that really true?
Once dad began reading the Bible, he was sorely convicted by this proverb and Proverb 20:17: Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Another slice of cake. A couple forkfuls of beef stroganoff. A couple handfuls of chips. Sigh. The stolen snacks, eaten in the darkness always seem sweet, until the light of day shines on my regret.
While midnight nibbles might not be the end of the world, it's a reminder that the things we THINK we do in secret are not secret at all. There are reactions to those actions.
My snacking adds inches to my waist, but what about other actions done in secret? Actions that might have less innocuous repercussions?
Not stopping at a stop sign. Going over the speed limit. Not returning things (change, product) given to us in error. Taking credit for something we didn't do. Fudging on our taxes--just a little bit. These are some of the small things we might do that we think can be done in secret and no one will ever know.
Then there are the larger things. Pornography. Shoplifting. Cheating. Covering up for others in sin. Embezzlement. Not honoring a contract or commitment. These, too, many times can be done in secret, and no one will ever know.
But, is that really true?
Once dad began reading the Bible, he was sorely convicted by this proverb and Proverb 20:17: Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
He said, "It sure tasted good last night, but it is gravel in my stomach today."
This still makes me smile. Dad was talking about the Holy Spirit's conviction.That there is NOTHING done in secret. Our Heavenly Father sees it all. Whether the nibble at night or the pornography, He knows what we're doing.
When we accept Yeshua's atonement over our sins--when we are adopted into GOD's family--He's always watching to help us not fall into sin. He sees it all, family or not, but He's invested in His children to keep us from bondage.
I wonder if we would do the things we think we do in secret if we imagined Him standing behind us. If we would accept the Holy Spirit's conviction right away and spit out the deceitful bread, rather than later when the it turns to gravel in our spirit. That challenges me, how about you?
No sin done in secret is sweet, my friends, may we spit it out!
Proverbs 9:17--“Stolen water is sweet and bread eaten in secret is delicious!” Tree of Life Bible Society, Tree of Life Version - TLV #tlvbible#tlvproverbs
[WATCH MONDAY through FRIDAY LIVE at 8:30EST, Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie dig a little deeper with the book of Proverbs. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]
This still makes me smile. Dad was talking about the Holy Spirit's conviction.That there is NOTHING done in secret. Our Heavenly Father sees it all. Whether the nibble at night or the pornography, He knows what we're doing.
When we accept Yeshua's atonement over our sins--when we are adopted into GOD's family--He's always watching to help us not fall into sin. He sees it all, family or not, but He's invested in His children to keep us from bondage.
I wonder if we would do the things we think we do in secret if we imagined Him standing behind us. If we would accept the Holy Spirit's conviction right away and spit out the deceitful bread, rather than later when the it turns to gravel in our spirit. That challenges me, how about you?
No sin done in secret is sweet, my friends, may we spit it out!
Proverbs 9:17--“Stolen water is sweet and bread eaten in secret is delicious!” Tree of Life Bible Society, Tree of Life Version - TLV #tlvbible#tlvproverbs
[WATCH MONDAY through FRIDAY LIVE at 8:30EST, Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie dig a little deeper with the book of Proverbs. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]
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