1 Kings 21:7-10 Jezebel his wife said, "Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! I'll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezrelite." So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth's city with him. In those letters she wrote: "Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death." --NASB In the name of the One Who nips evil in the bud, amen.
Oh how the desires of the heart take root and grow! Yesterday we saw how Ahab pouted when he couldn't have Naboth's vineyard. Today we see that his wife had no scruples about getting the vineyard through false accusations and murder. This is what we face if we do not follow the Lord's urging and nip evil in the bud. Sinful desires must be seen as what they are--sinful. Then they must be rooted out through confession and absolution, so that they do not take root in us and bear evil fruit. Amen.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, forgive us when we want things that we cannot have. Help us to recognize how evil and dangerous such desires really are. Keep our faith strong so that we do not sin against You by coveting, amen.
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