Day 101

Of Divine Providence

Chapter 5, Paragraph 6.

“…and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan,…“

Scripture Lookup

Psalm 81:11,12

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

Reflection

It is a fearful thing to consider how providence unfolds for the wicked and ungodly. God sometimes removes the restraints in their life that have kept them from further sin. Like shoppers waiting for the store doors to open on Black Friday, as soon as there is an opening for sin the ungodly rush in to take advantage of it.

Free from God’s restraints, the wicked are given over to their desires. The flesh, the world, and the devil consume them, and the wicked freely choose it. The lusts of the flesh are not a struggle for them. The world, and all the sinful opportunities it contains, encourages licentiousness. “Just do it!” “Embrace your passion!” There is no call for self-restraint, and the ungodly embraces such abandon. Allegiance to Satan is demonstrated proudly.

What makes this even more tragic, though, is that they freely choose this life of sin and misery. They have no desire for the truth. In fact, they believe that As 2 Thessalonians 2:11 shows, they believe what is false, “in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”

God may lessen His restraint on the wicked, but those in Christ He conforms to the image of His Son: “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13) While the ungodly fall prey to their own lusts, let us look to Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith, and ask Him for help in laying aside the sin which so easily entangles us.

Questions to Consider

• Knowing how God leaves the ungodly to their own lusts, are you turning to Him for aid in combating your own?