Denial Is No River

Read Proverbs 30

An adulterous woman consumes a man, then wipes her mouth and says, “What’s wrong with that?”

Proverbs 30:20

The bully of the big screen is a familiar stereotype. The bully walks into the school cafeteria and snatches a meatball sandwich out of a scrawny kid’s fumbling fingers. After gorging on the poor kid’s meal in plain view, the remorseless bully eyeballs the cowering crowd and says incredulously, “What are you lookin’ at?” End of scene.

The star of this proverb acts out a similar screenplay—only with much higher stakes. It is a frightening picture of how we can be so driven by our sinful appetites that it becomes impossible for us to be remorseful. The imagery is of a woman wiping her mouth to get rid of her indulgence. It warns us of times when, instead of repenting of our actions, we justify them. Not only are we steeped in sin; we cease to see our sin as sinful. Many people call such action a choice, a mere lifestyle like any other. But Scripture is clear: Sin has consequences.

A WORD FOR TODAY

When we get our way, we lose our way.

Today, Lord, may I remember what it is like to be truly sorry for my sins. Teach me how to repent.