Gems of Knowledge

Today’s One Year Bible Verses: Ezekiel 23:1-49, Hebrews 10:18-39, Psalm 109:1-31, Proverbs 27:13

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It Starts With A Thought

“She saw images of Babylonian military officers, portrayed in red on the wall… and she fell in love with them.” -Ezekiel 23:14 (NLT)

Temptation doesn’t begin with an action – it begins with a thought.

In Ezekiel 23, the Lord tells the story of two sisters—symbolic of Samaria and Jerusalem—who gave themselves over to spiritual adultery and wickedness. But there’s a powerful nugget of revelation to be found in verse 14:

“She saw a picture… and she fell in love with it.”

That’s where it started – A glance. A picture. A thought.
She didn’t sin the moment she saw it—she sinned when she embraced it.
She allowed the thought of temptation to take root and played it over and over in her mind until desire consumed her… and then she acted on it.

This is exactly what Jesus meant in Matthew 5:28 when He said:

“Anyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

That’s not just about lust, it’s about meditating on temptation until it becomes an internal reality.
It’s the same pattern every time:

1. Temptation enters (a thought, image, suggestion)
2. We dwell on it
3. Desire grows
4. We act

But here’s the hope:
The initial thought itself is not a sin. It’s not sin to be tempted – it’s sin when we nurture the thought instead of rejecting it.

Hebrews 10:26 gives us a serious warning:

“If we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.”

Ouch. That hits deep.
But don’t miss the context—Paul also urges us just two verses earlier:

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” (Hebrews 10:24)

We get to choose what we meditate on, what we rehearse, what we love. So here’s the question:
Are we falling in love with sin in our minds… or falling deeper in love with God through truth? 💎

Action (5 Minutes with God)

Take 5 minutes with God today and allow Him to show you what He wants you to know about this personally. Ask Him:

• “What do You want me to know about this?”
  • Journal what He whispers through the Holy Spirit.
• Then ask, “What do You want me to do?”
  • Journal what He whispers – then do it!

Let today be a day you fall deeper in love with the One True God. There is always more!

Prayer

Lord, I don’t want to nurture temptation. I want to walk in truth. Help me to recognize the moment temptation comes, and give me strength to reject it before it ever takes root. Fill my mind with Your Word and my heart with Your love. I want to be holy from the inside out, never waivering and always faithful like You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

To read more 5 Minutes with God devotionals click here.