Burned

READ: JUDGES 17:1-6; PROVERBS 3:5-6; ISAIAH 5:13-21; 2 CORINTHIANS 7:5-13

Growing up in the country, I spent lots of time running around barefoot. So when we needed to rush one day to get to a soccer game for my family member, Eli, I jumped barefoot into our minivan. Once we arrived at the park where Eli played, I followed my family across several fields carrying my sandals.

The lush grass of the fields, damp from morning dew, felt soothing on my feet. At first. Then I noticed a tingling sensation on the bottoms of my feet. As I watched the soccer match, the soles of my feet began burning and turning red. Too late, I realized I had walked through ant poison that had been sprinkled on the grass. For the rest of the day—after Eli’s game was over, after I put on shoes—all the skin that had encountered the grass (and, therefore, the poison) itched, ached, and swelled. What had appeared harmless, even inviting, at the start of the day had caused pain lasting most of the weekend. I couldn’t see the danger—didn’t consider any risk—and unknowingly ran right into it.

In the Old Testament, we read about God’s people who ran right into spiritual danger, assuming that what appeared good to them—including idol worship— would bring satisfaction. “All the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” (Judges 17:6), and that did not turn out well. But God desires something better for us. Jesus came to die for our sins and rise again so we could be in relationship with God. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we no longer need to depend on our own ideas of what’s good. We’re not on our own—we have a Father who possesses all wisdom and generously wants to share it with us (James 1:5). He knows the dangers in what seems good, even when we can’t see it. He will lead us well. • Allison Wilson Lee

• Can you think of something that seemed good at first, but turned out to be harmful in the end? Some bad decisions are sinful, and some are just unwise. Thankfully God is always merciful and eager to help and guide us—both in making good decisions, and in the aftermath of bad ones.

• Sometimes following Jesus doesn’t feel comfortable. It can be hard! Yet, if we know Jesus, the same Spirit who raised Him from the dead is now living in us, giving us power to walk in His good ways (Romans 8:11; 2 Timothy 1:7). And even when we do sin, Jesus still loves us, and He wants to forgive us and help us move forward in following Him. Where do you need wisdom or strength? Who are trusted Christians in your life who could pray and dig into the Bible with you?

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 (NLT)