August 30th
“For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, Her steps lay hold of hell. Lest you ponder her path of life–Her ways are unstable; you do not know them. Therefore hear me now, my children, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Remove your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, Lest you give your honor to others, And your years to the cruel one” Proverbs 5:3-9 NKJV
Looking at pornography opens a door to oppression on our lives just like the immoral woman Solomon described in the above passage. Porn lures us with forbidden delicacies of the flesh that may seem irresistibly sweet. They perfectly cater to our cravings, yet they are masked with deception. After we have indulged we will discover the resulting bitterness that fills our life because of the porn. Some examples of the bitterness include a perverse thought-life, a weakened ability to love, a lifelong cache of memories that will tempt us, a corrupted perception of reality and a devaluation of human life.
We may not understand the evil mechanism behind the porn, but we will feel the destruction it causes in our lives as we become slaves to lust and depravity. Perhaps the most dangerous part of pornography is that it lures us into bondage that may involve evil spirits. If we continue practicing porn, our years are given over to a cruel ruler who consumes our life.
The wise person will heed Solomon’s warning and keep far clear of porn. He or she will take heed of the potential sources of porn in their lives and plan how to avoid them or shut them off.
If you have become enslaved to a “cruel one” through sex addiction, there is hope for freedom. The place to start is by calling out to God for help, confessing your sin and turning away from it. After doing that, you can seek God’s healing for all the bitterness that sex addiction may have caused in your life. Then, seek God with all your heart, soul and mind and learn to walk in his ways. For help on how to do this, see our study Freedom Journey.
Questions for further thought:
Why is it best to not even go near the immoral woman and/or pornography? (James 1:14-15)
What can happen when we stare into the alluring eyes of immoral people and/or porn stars? (Proverbs 6:24-26)
What life experiences perhaps gave Solomon special insight into sexual temptation? (1 Kings 11:1-4)
Prayer:
“Lord God, I heed the words from Solomon concerning sexual temptations. I confess any sin associated with sexual temptation/addiction that I have practiced (lust, idolatry, envy, rebellion, etc.). Please forgive me of this sin and cleanse me with the blood of Jesus. Father, I ask for healing of all the areas of my life that have been damaged by my sin. Please revive me according to your word and teach me how to walk on the path of purity again. I believe that you are God and that nothing is too difficult for you. Holy Spirit, I will yield to your convictions and obey your promptings. Thank you, Lord! I praise you now and forever, Amen.”