MAY 31

2 Corinthians 6:17

BE YE SEPARATE

Amy slumped with a sour look. "Why can’t I go see the movie with Angie?" she asked. "Everybody says it’s really funny." However, Amy knew the movie was reported to have some very bad language. From reviews, it was obvi- ous that it was slightly "sexy". But it was also reported to have many very comi- cal lines. "I just don’t see what the big deal is," added Amy. " That stuff won’t affect me. Besides, I promise I’ll close my eyes if the scenes are really bad!"

After a moment, her father rolled up the sleeve of his shirt, and Amy saw the big, ugly scar close the elbow. He asked, "Do you remember how I got this? It was caused several years ago by a bite from a poisonous spider," continued Dad. "A spider bite is a small thing-so small that I didn’t pay attention to it when it happened. After a short while, it started to swell, and the flesh around the bite literally rotted and fell away. Now I have this big scar, and you know something else? I don’t have any feeling there at all. The spider’s poison killed the nerves around the bite."

"But what does that have to do with going to a movie?" asked Amy, still pouting. "Amy, you already know that movie is not pleasing to God," replied Dad. "We’ve read that it has bad language. And there are scenes of immoral behavior and other sinful actions. In general, it’s dishonoring to God."

"But I wouldn’t look at those scenes or pay attention to the language," said Amy. "I’d just close my eyes..." She stopped, knowing she couldn’t close her ears. "Choosing to expose yourself to those things would be wrong," insisted Dad. "You think you can shut it out so it wouldn’t affect you, but you can’t. Sin is like a spider’s poison. It may not seem like much of anything at first, but in the end it’s like a dreadful scar on your life and often destroys your sensitivity toward the things of God. Is it what you want, dear?" Slowly Amy shook her head. She hated to admit it, but she knew her dad was right.

Thought: Do you avoid sinful things? Or do you think you can ignore them so they won’t have any long-lasting effect on you? Stop fooling yourself! All sin is dangerous and harmful-so harmful that the only cure for it was the death of the Son of God. If you have been playing with sin, ask Jesus to forgive and cleanse you. Ask Him to help you avoid situations that expose you to sinful things. Separate yourself from them as much as possible.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, although I am young, help me to be discerning and to learn to know good things from bad. And when I do know there is something evil or unacceptable, help me to take a strong stand for You and to dare to be separate. is I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.