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Day 252 Proverbs 23:1 Proverbs 23:1 When thou sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: 2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. 3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat. 4 Labor not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. 6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, says he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. 8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words. 9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. One thing people love to do is eat. If they can get a free meal, so much the better. It doesn’t matter who offers the free meal, you will accept the invitation. You will put the date on your calendar, circle it in red, make certain you don’t have anything else conflicting with the date, and will cancel everything that comes up so you can get your free meal. Solomon attended many banquets as king. He sat at the table of many rulers and tasted their delicacies. Food wasn’t the only thing offered at those functions, but words were as well. Words go down into the soul as much as food to the belly. Not only did he need to consider the food in front of him, he needed to consider the words of his host as well. Often when you get to your free meal, you find out what the agenda is. Along with the food on your plate is a mixed palate of words on any given subject, the topic of which might not be to your liking. In which case, the food suddenly doesn’t taste that agreeable any longer. More than the free meal, Solomon said you are to consider the reason for the meal. Would you go to the same meeting if food were not offered? Food is an enticement for people to put forth their agenda. Some people will always buy into the agenda, sampling not only the food, but whatever is offered as well. As Christians, Satan will do whatever he can to entice you away from the will of God for your life. He will do it with food, because he knows you love to eat. He will wrap up his dainties with a proposition that looks enticing, but when you consider what he’s offering, your immediate reaction should be to leave the table and the food untouched. Remember, Satan is a thief and a liar. He has his own agenda against the body of Christ – to kill, steal, and destroy, and if he can do that through the belly, he will. John 10:10 The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Consider well everything you see and hear, and remember Jesus came to give life – abundant life. Satan’s sole mission is to destroy your life. He will use any means at his disposal to do so. Let’s pray: Father, help me discern the intentions of those around me, to know whether they intend evil towards me or your good. Let me consider the invitation, before I accept and sit down to eat something that will destroy me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 19 May 2017 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay