Suggested Bible Reading: Genesis 19-21
Devotional Thought:
“Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord.” (2 Cor. 6:17) God’s command to His children has always to be distinctly different from the world. He commanded every dispensation to live in such a way as to help point people to the character of Christ. It is our selfish, sinful, and senseless human nature that leads us to build an appetite for the world. 1 John 2:15 says plainly, “Love not the world neither the things that are in the world…” Lot was certainly instructed not to love the world, but in Genesis 13 we find him pitching his tent toward Sodom. The danger of getting into the world is that eventually the world gets into us. In Genesis 13, Lot was on the outside looking at the world. The pattern of sin is consistent all through the Bible and even into today. The Devil first gets a person to look at sin until he longs for it. Once a person is longing for the opportunity to experience sin, the Devil is sure to provide the opportunity and before long the person is living in sin. Once a person is living in sin he tries to cover it up. Adam and Eve followed this path. Eve saw the fruit, desired the fruit, took the fruit, and they hid in the garden. Achan saw the cursed merchandise, coveted the merchandise, took the merchandise, and hid it under his tent. Lot followed the same path. He looked at Sodom until he longed for Sodom. In chapter 19 we find him living in Sodom and when the angels come to visit, Lot tries to hide what he has promoted in his life and in his family. In fact, when he tried to convince his children to leave the city, he had no credibility. “And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.” (vs. 14) Are you on the pathway to destruction? Are you looking at sin? Are you longing or desiring sin? Are you engaged in some sinful action, attitude, or addiction? Maybe you think you have your sin all hidden, but may I remind you about Lot. The effects of the sinful decisions of Lot are still being felt today in the hostility between Israel and the Moab and Ammonite nations. It would be wise for us to just obey the simple command, “Love not the world!”
Prayer Requests:
• Lord, please help me to hate the world philosophy, poison, and practices. Please give me discernment to know when my flesh is lying to me.
• Lord, thank you for loving me so much to give me commands that protect my heart and keeps me pure. Please help me to obey them.
• Lord, please help me to learn from the bad decisions of Lot and help me to make good decisions for your glory.