I am big fan of Don Finto, former Senior Pastor of Belmont Church in Nashville. Don’s current ministry is focused on Israel and embracing Jews who embrace Yeshua as their Lord and Savior. I have had the joy of traveling in The Land with Don twice.
Don’s website is www.calebcompany.com. What follows below is his most recent post. It has nothing to do with Israel but everything to do with walking the faithful walk of integrity before our Lord, our ministry partners, our friends and neighbors.
“Lead us not into temptation. Deliver us from the Evil One.”
“The thief comes to rob, kill and destroy.”
“Keep you eyes fixed on Jesus.”
May we all be encouraged to ignore the traps the enemy sets for us.
I was reading in Deuteronomy 11: 25-26 this week and happened upon a word from the Lord that brought clarity to a danger we face: unholy and dangerous curiosity.
Moses is encouraging Israel in their devotion to the One True God and the danger of involvement with false gods who would lead them into disobedience and the evil consequences to follow. During the reading I happened upon this remarkable phrase, “After they (the enemies) have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods.”
“Ensnared by inquiring about their gods?”
“Ensnared by inquiring!”
Some things we need not to know. We have no need to know the ways of sin. Curiosity can open the door for inquiry. Inquiry can open the door for attraction. Attraction can open the door for participation.
My thoughts went to Eve in the Garden.
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food …
Curiosity: “I wonder how it would taste?
…and pleasing to the eye,
Attraction: “I’ll just look at it for a while, no need to touch it, but I’ll look. No real harm done in looking.
…and also desirable for gaining wisdom…
Desire: “Why should I not know the ways of the other side? What harm does that do? That would make me wise. Perhaps I could even help others if I knew more about what is drawing them away from God?”
…she took some and ate it.”
Participation and the evil consequences of sin.
How many are ensnared into sexual sin by wondering what it is like? How many are lured into a life of drug addiction by wanting to know what it’s like to “get high?” Curiosity, inquiry, attraction, desire, participation with its evil consequences.
An interesting little sideline: I opened the Nashville Tennessean’s Sunday edition this morning and noticed a small side bar at the top of page one, “Nudists Strip Down, Shed Stereotypes,” reference page 1D. ”
My first impression was, “How gross! Who are these people? What would it be like to be in a nudist colony? Why would that appeal to people?”
My immediate secondary reaction was to turn to page 1D and find out more about this bizarre community.
But I had read the “Parasha” reading this week, and reconsidered my curiosity. Why did I need to know? Why should I even read more? Of what use would it be to me as a servant of the Most High God?
“Ensnared by inquiring!”
Be aware! Live as a faithful servant of the One True God! Lift high the Name of Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah and World Redeemer. Meditate on Him. Praise Him. Exalt Him.
RichRonald.com 