Today’s passage: Proverbs 7
Helpful thoughts:
- Praise God for parents who lovingly put these words of wisdom into the hearts of their children
- Then pray that they might be treasured.
- The easiest way to avoid sin is to steer clear of it. The young man who was tempted and fell first had to walk down the seductress’ street.
- Contrast verses 10-11 with 1 Peter 3:4:
- 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
Questions to consider:
- In discipling children, what part of the process is the responsibility of the parent? What part is the responsibility of the child? What do we do with things we treasure? What does it look like to treasure God’s word?
- What is the “street corner” of the seductress today? Where is it? How can you avoid it? In what ways does the normalization of cohabitation and sex outside of marriage make this “street corner” almost everywhere in today’s society? Young men, where should you go to find a woman who will bless your life (And whom you can bless and follow the Lord together with)? Young women?
- Does the ox know it is going to the slaughter on its way there? What kind of humility do we need to hear from our loved ones who are trying to warn us of danger ahead?
Prayer:
Father, we pray for faithfulness to lead and point our children to you. And we ask you to grant them grace and repentance. May our children love you with their whole hearts! We also pray for wisdom to go down the path you have made straight for us, to stay away from the street corners on our phone, televisions, or literal street corners that lead us to temptation. Father, as we look to Christ in Scripture and see of your great love for us, may we be so encouraged to pursue you that we don’t have the time or interest to go where temptations call.