Today’s Blog: Nighttime Nibbler?

TODAY’S PROVERBS: “Stolen water is sweet
and bread eaten in secret is delicious!” Proverbs 9:17, TLV

My dad was a nighttime snacker. I always thought that strange — until recently. It was rare for me to get up in the middle of the night, much less eat. Now, I wake up because I’m hungry — or at least, I think I am.

Another cookie. A couple forkfuls of beef stroganoff — cold. A handful of chips. Sigh. The stolen snacks eaten in darkness always seem sweet. But then the light of day shines on my regret.

While midnight nibbles might not be the end of the world, it’s a reminder that the things we think we do in secret are not secret of all. There are reactions to those actions.

My snacking adds inches to my waist, but what about other actions done in secret? Actions that might have less innocuous repercussions?

Not stopping at a stop sign because no one appears to be around. Going over the speed limit because we’re late. Not returning things (change, product, Tupperware bowls) given to us in error. Taking credit for something we didn’t do. Fudging on our taxes — just a little bit. These are some of the small things we might do that we think can be done in secret and no one will ever know.

Then there are the larger things. Viewing pornography on our computers and phones. Shoplifting. Cheating on a test. Covering up for others in sin. Embezzlement. Not honoring a contract or commitment. These, too, can be done in secret and no one may ever know.

But is that really true?

Once dad began reading the Bible, he was sorely convicted by this proverb, and Proverbs 20:17: Bread gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is filled with gravel.

I remember the morning he said, “It sure tasted good last night, but it’s gravel in my stomach today.” It still makes me smile. Dad was talking about the Holy Spirit’s conviction. That there is nothing done in secret. Our Heavenly Father sees it all. Whether the nibble at night or the pornography. He knows what we’re doing.

When we accept Yeshua’s (Jesus) atonement over our sins — when we are adopted into our Heavenly Father’s family — He’s always watching. Not to catch us sinning so He can point His finger in condemnation, but to help us not fall into sin.

He sees it all — family or not — but He’s invested in His children to keep us from bondage.

I wonder if we would do the things we do in “secret” if we imagined Him standing there. Imagined His Son’s shoulders having to carry that sin to the cross. What if we would accept the Holy Spirit’s conviction right away and spit out the deceitful “bread,” rather than having the “gravel” in our spirit? That challenges me. How about you?

May we turn away from the “bread” or spit it out, my friends.

Proverbs 9:17 Tree of Life Version – TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs

WHAT ARE THE “NIBBLES” DONE IN SECRET WE’VE OVERCOME? IF THIS BLOG WAS A BLESSING, PLEASE SHARE. THANK YOU SO MUCH!