Session 2

What popcorn can teach you about sin

From 2 Samuel: A 5-Week Devotional

Have you ever sat down with popcorn at the movies? You’re not super hungry, but it’s the thing to do, so you take a piece — then a few bites more. You realize you’ve eaten half the bag, and the previews aren’t even over. You slow yourself down to make the popcorn last a little longer. You didn’t intend to eat the whole bag, but you can’t help yourself.

Sometimes, sin is that way.

In 2 Samuel 11, David sets himself up with a huge bag of popcorn. He has several chances to set it down but doesn’t. First, David neglected his duty to go to war, remaining in the luxury of his own home. Then “He saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her” (2 Samuel 11:2-3). 

When we’re in the moment, desire can blind us to the sinful choices we are about to make.

David probably knew he was making poor choices, but when we’re in the moment, desire can blind us to the sinful choices we are about to make.

“Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:14-15).

David allowed his desires to reach the point of sin — the conscious choice to sleep with Bathsheba, which led to her husband’s literal death (2 Samuel 11:14-27).

When we see the pattern of desire leading to sin in our lives, we realize how hard it is to stop the cycle once it’s started.

The cycle of sin is dangerous — leading to destruction in our lives that we never imagined. We deceive others because we don’t want them to know what we’ve done, and we isolate ourselves.

Let’s not allow the power of our sinful desires to overtake our lives. We didn’t really want the popcorn in the first place.

Reflect:

• Do you have a desire you know could lead to sin?
• What do you need to start doing or stop doing to avoid stepping into that sin?
• When we talk about our sin and temptation, it can help us see more clearly where it will lead us. Who can you talk to today about your struggle?