“For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
James 1:13-15
Often the most beautiful things are the most deadly. Take, for instance, the oleander bush. This popular flowering bush thrives in the California climate, and often blooms bright and colorful along the freeways.
Yes, oleanders are lovely, but they’re deadly. Because the leaves and blossoms are highly toxic, many cat — and dog — lovers have uprooted oleander bushes from their backyards to protect their pets. I once entertained the idea of picking oleander flowers to use in a table centerpiece but, on second thought, decided that I didn’t relish the idea of placing something poisonous on the dinner table.
Like oleanders, some ideas are beautiful but, oh, so deadly. Bad thoughts never enter your mind, telling you, “I want to ruin your peace of mind, I want to rob you of joy.” No, harmful thoughts always disguise themselves as pleasant things to ponder. But beware. That seemingly innocent thought about a married man at church, or a young co-worker at the office… is poisonous.
So-called beautiful thoughts are like a bouquet of oleanders on your dining room table. They may be attractive to look at, but they don’t belong close to you. Never learn to accept the idea of putting something poisonous in front of you.
Lord of all, I admit that often thoughts enter my head that seem acceptable, even beautiful. But in my heart of hearts, I realize they are deadly and damaging. Give me strength to say “no” to enticing ideas that not only harm me but dishonor You. Help me to place the Lord Jesus in the front of my thinking today.
