Devotional

Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly

Gross
Sometimes I wonder about the stuff in the Bible. I mean, who edits this stuff? Isn’t a verse like Proverbs 26:11 pretty gross? Couldn’t they find a better way to say what they wanted to say?
Then again, have you ever seen a ‘fool’ in action? I have had a number of friends that really made me shake my head. I remember one guy that I used to hang out with. First, he got into drugs, and would take things from people that he hardly knew, until someone gave him some bad ‘stuff’. Never stopped him, though, and he kept on trying all kinds of drugs, and last I heard, he’s homeless and a real mess.
Another guy I knew was a smart, talented and really friendly guy. Especially when he had a few drinks. I watched him gradually lose his job, his family, all his money, and eventually, his life.
Almost every ‘fool’ that I’ve known has, at one time or another, tried to ‘clean himself up’. A few did it, and seem to be doing ok, but most fall back into the same bad habits, only worse. It seems like there are several common reasons for the relapses, like old ‘friends’ that drag them back down. Or, problems with their past, or about how they see themselves, that they want to run from.
While it’s not impossible, it sure is hard to for a person to change himself, at his very core. But I’m convinced that there is supernatural help from God, that can make the changes necessary.
Although He could change us any time He wants to, God respects our choices, as the verse above indicates. If we choose to be fools, He has chosen to allow us our freedom to do so. He really wants to help though, if we only ask. Remember the Prodigal son, who decided to go off and party with his dad’s money until it all ran out and he ate garbage with pigs?  He finally admitted he’d been a fool, and returned home. That’s what we need to do; admit to God that we’ve made a mess of things, and ask Him to help us. He gave us the Bible as a great encouragement to let us know how much He loves us, and wants to help us. (Like Ephesians 2:5).
But the first step is to realize that we’re fools, for returning to the ‘vomit’ in our lives, over and over again. Gross.