A Prayer About Seduce-ability
With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life. Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death. Proverbs 7:21-27
Dear Lord Jesus, we’ve been created and re-created to connect with you deeply-to enjoy an intimacy, union and communion of which our best relationships are only a hint, a whisper, a symbol. But alas, like all good things, our longings get hijacked and sabotaged by sin and death.
Samson and King David do not stand alone. Every one of us is capable of being seduced and seducing others. We need, I need, the gospel to keep us sane, centered and satisfied. There are many lonely husbands, many lonely wives, many lonely single people who are primed for a “fling,” targets for an affair-aching, yearning, reaching for a few minutes of pleasure to medicate months, years, even a lifetime of disconnect and emptiness.
It may never become physically sexual, but sometimes just the emotional connection can bring an exhilaration bordering on intoxication, and an intoxication that can lead to addiction.
But Jesus, how well I know that it’s not just the despairing who can get veer onto the “grave highway” leading to the “chambers of death.” Even when we’re connecting well, even when our marriages are at a good place, or even when we’re quite content and fulfilled in our singleness, our seduce-ability is ever present, dormant perhaps, but never dead. How we long for our life in the new heaven and new earth-when we will never be capable of ever sinning again, or even being tempted…
I know the way of the gospel is neither paranoia nor presumption, rather, wisdom… care… and freedom. So, Lord Jesus, give us, give me, more gospel sanity. We will not turn our hearts towards the seducer, but towards you. You are constantly wooing us in the gospel, saying “Come away my beloved.” Your desire is for us and your banner over us is love. Who do we have in heaven but you, Lord Jesus, and being with you, who or what could we possibly desire more on this earth? You alone have the words of eternal life, and your love alone is better than life. So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ name.
