TODAY IN THE WORD
We have already learned this month that the Proverbs have a lot to say about being careful where and how we walk. Simply put, God urges us to watch where we're going when it comes to the decisions and activities of life.

But as important as our vigilance is, it is only half the story. Someone else is watching where and how we walk day by dayÑand nothing escapes His eye.

Proverbs 5 applies this truth to an area of life that has been a source of both blessings and curses since the beginning of time. Today's reading makes the unmistakable point that God is interested in our sexual conduct.

What a timely word of warning these verses are! They could not be more needed than they are today, in our loose-living 90s culture. The entertainment industry, the homosexual rights movement, and others may try to put an attractive face on sexual sin.

But anyone who is willing to look past all the glitz and glamour will discover the truth of Solomon's words: those who practice immorality are on a path that leads straight to deathÑspiritually and even physically. The landscape of this generation is scarred with the graves of people who groaned in agony as their bodies and spirits were consumed by the results of sexual sin.

It isn't hard to imagine a godly father pleading with his son to avoid the allure of sexual immorality. Even those who don't have children still need to be reminded that we never outgrow our responsibility to be morally alert.

But once again, God's Word does not simply warn us about taking the wrong path. When it comes to sexual conduct, He has an infinitely better alternative.

For married couples, God's alternative is the purity of a satisfying, faithful marriage in which the partners' commitment enriches and deepens their physical intimacy. And God calls single believers to a path of sexual purity that honors Him, preserving the joy and strength of life and avoiding the snares that hold the sinner in bondage.

Clearly, God is pleased by our sexual purity.

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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Praise the Lord that He has told us the whole truth about sex.

There's no mystery about what it takes to maintain our integrity in this area. In the Proverbs alone, God gives us detailed instructions on how to avoid the traps that lead to sexual bondage. We hope you have a biblically-based plan for dealing with sexual temptation. If not, this weekend would be a great time to draw one up and make it a firm commitment.

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