March 16, 2026 -- Proverbs 5:21-23 -- A pinprick of evil and the consequences

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For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD,
and he ponders all his paths.
The iniquities of wicked ensnare him,
and he is held fast by the cords of his sin.
He dies for lack of discipline,
and because of his great folly he is led astray.
Proverbs 5:21-23 ESV
 
Where are you headed? What you might be excusing as “no big deal” is in fact a sin that will lead you far from your goal of serving Jesus. Can you see it? Do you understand how one misstep leads to a completely different destination? That misstep is sin. It is a conscious choice made without considering the long-term consequences. But the passage is a warning. It is written so that believers will consider their choices, words, and their actions.
 
Sins that are in a very early stage, and freely chosen, soon become like binding ropes or chains. The first puffs of a vape might be voluntary, but soon, the body craves it. What was a little pull, soon becomes an addictive chain. The first sin in a chain is usually so small. It takes spiritual discernment. What began as a little compromise, or a tiny deviation from a parent’s godly instruction soon becomes a flood of wickedness. There are no such things as “little sins”. Consider a balloon filled with water. A pinprick to the balloon will cause the water to explode out as much as a stick or a bullet hitting it. That little pinprick into evil unleashes far more than you realize or ever wanted.
 
Discipline is the key. I like how someone once described discipline as the tide coming into a harbor. It doesn’t just raise one boat—the tide raises them all. If you imagine discipline in one area of your life as a tide, you’ll see other, unexpected areas affected as well. For example, your decision to spend more time in exercising will likely lead you to reconsider eating a second dessert. You realize how much more you’ll need to exercise just to burn the calories, and you decide it is not worth it. Discipline teaches you to weigh consequences.
 
Your walk with Jesus Christ is the right path. Wisdom instructs you to follow Him with all your heart, mind, soul. Loving Jesus means you aren’t looking for ways to avoid doing the things He commands. A man in love with his wife will anticipate her desires and have that coffee ready for her before she even asks. A soldier who admires his Captain and is fiercely loyal leaps up to obey His every command. That’s what it’s like for believers who know Jesus, the Captain of Salvation. His commands are not burdensome. Out of deep devotion to Him Who rescued them from the wrath of God against sin, believers love Him, jumping up to do everything He commands.
 
O Glorious God Who hears the prayers of His people, thank You for the rich and beautiful salvation You have lavished on Your people through Jesus, the Captain of Salvation. Forgive us for our lazy obedience, and many times we calculate how far we can creep away from You and still stay within the range of Your love. Spirit of the Living God, revive in us a profound thankfulness for all that we have received in Christ so that we are motivated so serve our God promptly and sincerely. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/o-ImfnUqWxg?si=DoIOJQccDKmamGCl All Praise To Him
 

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