Our fickle hearts wander away and so easily give our affection to another. The Bible calls this "love of the world." And the Bible tells us that if we love the world, the love of the father is not in us. James says that we get angry with one another because we are spiritual adulterers, and the person next to us gets in the way of what we love (James 4:1-4). The world is so attractive to our eyes and so seductive to our hearts. The creation can seem so much more real than the Creator. The sights, sounds, touches, and tastes of the world can seem to make us more alive than the purposes, promises, presence, and provisions of a God who can neither be seen or heard. This is a battle you do not win once. It is a battle that you must face every day. You must tell yourself that in this world you are surrounded by other lovers who will seek to woo you away from the one grand romance that is to be the core of your existence. You must prepare for this seduction and you must steel yourself against the temptation to spiritual adultery. And you must do it again and again and again, or your heart will be stolen away.
-Paul David Tripp
Note: This marks post number 300 for "God Before Midnight" since February 18, 2018!
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