Tuesday - August 23, 2016

Woodlawn Family Bible Study
TUESDAY

BIBLE READING:  Hebrews 13:1-19

 What would you do? You consider yourself a happily married man, but the waitress at the coffee shop you frequent is very attractive and very flirtatious.  Every day when you go in to pick up your latté, the two of you seem to strike up a conversation.  It started off as cordial small talk, like “How are you today?” or “What do think about this weather?” However, now it has progressed to some very provocative and very suggestive exchanges.  You know this is getting uncomfortable, yet you continue to stay longer and longer; talking more and more. To make things worse, the two of you seem to have some connection.  You play it off as innocent behavior until one night she asks you to have your daily coffee at her house. What do you do?

  1. You go and enjoy yourself
  2. You go and leave if things get “too hot.”
  3. You brush her off and say “Maybe next time.”
  4. You find a new coffee shop.

Before you answer, envision your spouse in a similar situation.  Does that change your answer?  You see, when we take a look at things from a different view, our perspective changes.  What may have seemed harmless to us, might be considered condemning, dangerous and even sinful in the eyes of God.  

 John calls those who are members of the body of Christ, the “Bride” of Christ (Revelation 21:2, 9).  That means we are married to Jesus!  When we flirt with the things of the world (anger, lust, greed or pride, etc.), Christ may very well feel the same way we would about our spouse’s relationship with the server of the coffee shop.  James writes “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). When we give in to sin, we are viewed as committing adultery on God.  

 Application: While it may be difficult, try looking at your actions from God’s perspective, rather than your own. In the meantime, let’s do our best to avoid the “coffee shops” of the world.

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