Enticed

My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul…my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;*

I was first enticed by sinners as a pigtailed six year old. Marsha and Sandra approached me with an exciting plan for recess one day. “Hey, let’s chase the boys, and kick them when we catch them,” they plotted. Being from a family of all girls, my experience with boys was limited; the thought of attacking them had never occurred to me. After watching my friends for a few minutes, however, I decided it looked like fun, and I joined them.

Our fun was short-lived. Mrs. Casebeer (I’m not making any of this up) promptly hauled us to the classroom and plopped each of us in our own separate corner. I remember doubling over with my head in my lap, and scooting my little wooden chair as far into the corner as possible, in hopes that I would somehow become invisible. My father was the principal of the school, you see, and my greatest fear was what would happen if he came in and saw me in that corner.

I don’t know how long I sat in the corner –probably ten minutes or so, but I worried and stewed for months about Mrs. Casebeer telling my father what I had done. Apparently she never did. Neither did I ever again have the slightest urge to chase boys on the playground for the purpose of inflicting pain.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.**

Fear is a powerful deterrent. Even though the punishment was light, the fear that enveloped me following my first grade escapade made me so miserable that I tried very hard from that time on to obey my teachers and stay away from the trouble makers.
Today, when I find myself rebelling against healthy eating habits, daily Bible reading, and other areas of wise discipline, I can’t help but wonder if my problem is a lack of fear. If I truly fear God, shouldn’t I find the resolve to accept wisdom and live a disciplined life?

Father, I know that You love me in an intimate, personal way. You have even invited me to call You “Daddy.” I thank and praise you for that privilege. Now, create in me an understanding of Your righteousness, Your justice, Your might. Teach me to fear you in a way that brings me to my knees, fills me with awe; and causes me to hunger for You alone. In Your precious and holy name, Amen.



* Proverbs 1:10-15 (NIV)
**Proverbs 1:7