I made sure I was alone with the door closed. I lay on my blue comforter propping my head while I thumbed through my latest treasure from the library. Roses sent their scent through my open bedroom window. I felt guilty about my secret but not yet enough to stop.
My eyes hungrily consumed the words on the page. I relaxed into the soft bed, forgetting the bully who mocked me at junior high school. The scene in the book was romantic and getting steamy. I knew I should stop but I welcomed the lustful feelings that could not be fulfilled in a good way. Lust was my enemy, but it became my bosom buddy. Afterward, I would feel ashamed and guilty. I’d confess my wrong to God and ask for his forgiveness, but I felt trapped in a cycle.
Israel was oppressed for twenty years by a Canaanite king named Jabin and his army commander Sisera. The people of Israel finally called out to God for help. He employed a judge named Deborah to prophesy victory against their enemies. In Judges 4, Sisera was running away from the Israelite army. A woman named Jael, whom he thought was his ally, welcomed him into her tent. He was thirsty, tired and scared. He did not want to be discovered. She gave him milk and covered him with a rug. She had a choice. Would she feed and cuddle up with her enemy or would she destroy him? God gave her the idea, the boldness and the strength to do what he desired her to do. When Sisera fell asleep, she drove a tent peg through his head with a hammer.
We are also called to be ruthless with our sin. I was tired of being a slave to lust. I knew it was not pleasing God or leading me closer to him. I cried out to Jesus to set me free. Eventually I was liberated from lust. I stopped reading secular romance novels. I don’t give in to random thoughts or feelings anymore. Instead, I get mad at the enemy who sends temptation my way, and I praise Jesus for his aid. God helps me to take my thoughts captive to obey Christ. (2 Cor.10:5) God gave Jesus to be the sacrifice for our sins so that we could be forgiven and set free. God defeated sin and Satan so we wouldn’t have to be crushed.
Lord please help me to ask you for help to resist sin, in the moment. Help me to replace the enemy's lies with your truth. Thank you that I can do all things through your strength.
Throughout this day: Consider how God may be asking you to show no mercy to your sin. Will you call out to him for help and obey?
Thanks to Charles Haddon Spurgeon, July 29, 1860 New Park Street Pulpit Volume 6 “Sin Slain” for the idea of connecting sin to Sisera.
Photo Credit: Yulia