TODAY IN THE WORD
The church-based movement that has challenged thousands of young people to take a pledge of sexual abstinence until marriage is still gaining momentum. In the past few years, it has spread across many denominations and has moved into other countries. Today, countless numbers of teenagers and young adults are wearing a ring as the symbol of the promise they have made before God.

The writers of Proverbs would have approved. This movement illustrates what Solomon had in mind when he urged his readers to bind God's teaching on their fingers. Like a string on the finger that reminds a person to do something, the ring constantly reminds the wearer of the promise made.

Why is so much of Proverbs devoted to warnings against sexual immorality? Because it is a pervasive threat, appealing to the very core of our makeup as men and women. It's also a temptation that does not generally diminish or get any easier to handle as we grow older.

So here we are in Proverbs 7, reading a much-needed passage on the importance of protecting our moral integrity. Instead of embracing immorality, we need to embrace God's commands. The writer uses several images to drive home his point.

We have already talked about wearing God's teaching the way we would wear a piece of jewelry that is always there as a reminder. Solomon also tells us to treat God's commands like we do the 'apple' of our eyeÑa reference to the pupil of one's eye, a delicate and important organ we would guard at all costs.

But even these images did not satisfy Solomon. So he referred to God's wisdom as an intimate relative, a member of our family whom we would hold very close. It takes this kind of intimate familiarity with God's Word and with His will to protect us from immorality.

One reason for this intensity is the danger into which the simple are easily led (vv. 7-23). In the Proverbs, a simple person is someone who is untaught, gullible, naive. This is usually a young person, but not always. The simple need guidance and instruction. In the language of another day, they need to 'wise up.' Otherwise, they will become another victim of the immoral person, since sexual sin has been the ruin of many.

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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The psalmist wrote, 'I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you' (Ps. 119:11).

That's the idea behind writing the Word of God on 'the tablet of your heart' (Prov. 7:3). As you enjoy your Labor Day holiday and the official end of the summer season, why not join your friends in the Today family in making this commitment? Let's renew our determination to make the study of God's Word a priority daily.

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