30 Days in ProverbsSample

I had a list of things I’d never do; a list I adopted from mentors, friends, groups, teachings, and the Word of God. I would never drink. I would never cheat or steal. I would never have sex outside of marriage. The list went on. I put the possibility of ever compromising or giving in to these temptations entirely out of my mind. “I would never,” and so I never thought about it. But that was my biggest mistake.

Because I never accepted the possibility of compromise, I never properly guarded myself and established the boundaries I needed to avoid the very things I said I’d never do. As a result, while in my first serious relationship, and at the age of 25, I had sex outside of marriage.

The aftermath of my moral failure was messy; I went through church correction and stepped out of church ministry altogether. With that went the speaking engagements, the writing opportunities, and the part I played in building the local church.

Looking back, I see how my story echoes that of Peter’s a bit in Matthew 26. On the night Jesus was arrested, he told his disciples that they would deny him. Peter speaks out, but what he really does is rebuke Jesus. He tells Christ that he’ll never deny him; even if he must die with Christ, he will be there until the end.

That night, Peter did what he said he would never do. Three times, Peter denied Christ, each with greater emphasis—the first with a simple denial, the second with a swear, and the third with a curse. It wasn’t until the rooster crowed, as Jesus foretold, that Peter even realized what’s happening.

I relate to Peter here in that I didn’t realize I was vulnerable and, indeed going in the very direction I said I’d never go in until it was too late. Still consumed with the idea that compromise wasn’t an option, Peter and I both walked right into what we said we’d never do. We weren’t untouchable like we thought we were. In fact, because neither of us understood our vulnerability, we were not prepared for the temptation.

Let me ask you: do you think you’re untouchable? Who can say they are clean from sin! And who can say, in my humble opinion, that we are free from sin now or tomorrow? This is the heart of Proverbs 20:9.

Who can say they are pure?

Friend, you are precious to the Father and valuable to the Kingdom of God. My prayer for you is that you’ll admit that you are not untouchable. Put on the armor of God daily, and watch God use you in ways you could never imagine!