Corona Devo 3260

Our family sends two sons to college this week...does anyone have any advice for them?

The world will wink and say: "Have fun!".  
Our culture will chortle and cheer: "Party!"

But I was blessed by the Lord's blunt advice when I opened the Bible today and it read (essentially): "Avoid women and drinking!".  

God's advice (given through King Lemuel in the Book of Proverbs) is direct and stark and timely for King Lemuel's sons (O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows), for college students, and for each of us today, too.

King Lemuel wrote this advice to his sons...the sons of a king.  But you and I are (also) sons and daughters of a King, and this advice is not outdated, prude, or incorrect.  

It is in perfect timing and perfect advice for each of us today.

The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him. 

(2) O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, (3) do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.

(4) It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine.  Rulers should not crave alcohol. 

(5) For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed. 

(6) Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress. (7) Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.  ~Proverbs 31:1-7

Alcohol (King Lemuel says) may be (appropriate) for some (the dying, and for those in bitter distress), and Friends, I pray that is not you and I today.  And may the Lord be with us today if we do need to drink to forget our poverty and remember our troubles no more.

But otherwise...and embracing-the-wise...the Lord has a lesson loud and clear for us here.  Whether we are moving into a dorm room, or suiting up for an operating room, or sitting in our favorite room, or heading off to the boardroom...the Lord warns His children against (sexual) distractions and alcoholic drinks that will distort His good will for us.

O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, (3) do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings. (4) It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine.  Rulers should not crave alcohol.  ~Proverbs 31:2-4

When we take our eyes off of the task at hand, or the goal, or the purpose that God has placed upon us, and we (instead) focus on sexual distractions, then we waste our strength, and God warns us that these physical and flesh-fulfilling tangents will ruin us.  

Let's not let ourselves go there.

Let's not get that far.  

Let's not even get started.

And if we have started...let's STOP.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  ~Hebrews 4:12

~~~

Is the word of God penetrating us today?  Is the Lord dividing our soul and spirit through Scripture today?  Is God, our divine Judge judging the thoughts and attitudes of our heart today?

Let Him.  

God brings His Word and God brings Proverbs 31 as more than mere advice today.  The Lord speaks Scripture-truth into our lies.  He is warning some of us, but He is stabbing others of us in the heart today.  

We must forsake the sins of promiscuity and craving alcohol.

Whether we are twenty and in college or seventy and have been around the block, God has more for us today than what we are settling for.  

The Lord created us with special and strong potential.  We are His children, His sons and daughters.  Children of the King grow up to be kings and queens in His Name, but we forfeit His best when we settle for feasts of the flesh.  

That is not for us.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine.  Rulers should not crave alcohol.  ~Proverbs 31:1-4

The Lord loves us, His children, so much that He will bring His Truth even when it is shocking, or embarrassing, or uncouth.  

And our sins before Him accost Him in all of these same (shocking, embarrassing, and uncouth) ways.  

Just as my husband and I want the very best for our sons as they head off to college...our Heavenly Father wants His very best for each of us as well.  

Just as a parent gives advice to their kids, God gives His advice to us...for our good.  And for His glory.  

His advice today is specific, but our Lord always has His reasons.  
If God's direct message is directed to us...it will behoove us to heed it.  

The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him. 

(2) O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, (3) do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.

(4) It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine.  Rulers should not crave alcohol. 

(5) For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed. 

(6) Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress. (7) Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.  ~Proverbs 31:1-7 


Blessings,

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