August 9
Exposed
Temptation
"But here is what I tell you. Do not even look at a woman the wrong way. Anyone who does has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Matthew 5:28 (NIrV)
The sun burned hot on Rose’s bare skin as she stretched out on her towel, eyes closed, listening to the waves. The heat wrapped around her like a slow embrace, making her body feel weightless, careless, free. The Mediterranean air smelled of salt and sunscreen, and the distant laughter of her friends mixed with the rolling tide.
This was her escape—her one week a year where she could leave behind the stress of life, of work, of expectations. No responsibilities. No rules. And here, in this place, topless sunbathing was just normal.
The first time she’d done it, years ago, she’d felt a twinge of hesitation. But she’d told herself it was nothing. Everyone else was doing it—women of all ages, all shapes. No one batted an eye. And why should they? It was just a body.
But she liked the way the men looked at her. The sideways glances, the stolen stares. She’d act like she didn’t notice, but she did. It made her feel powerful. Desirable. In control.
Then, one afternoon, she caught a group of men staring—not subtle this time, not a passing glance. One of them smirked, nudging his friend. Their low voices carried over the sound of the sea.
"She’s asking for it, lying there like that."
A cold chill ran through Rose’s body despite the heat.
Something in her twisted, hard and uncomfortable.
She sat up, suddenly aware of her own skin, the way she was on display—not in a way that felt freeing anymore, but exposed. Vulnerable.
The thought hit her out of nowhere: Is this really freedom?
That night, back in her hotel room, she couldn’t shake the feeling. She grabbed her phone and scrolled through her Bible app, hoping for something to distract her. But the verse that came up stopped her cold:
"Do not even look at a woman the wrong way. Anyone who does has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
She stared at the words.
For so long, she had told herself that how men looked at her wasn’t her problem. If they lusted, that was their sin. But had she ever stopped to think—was she helping or hurting? Was she honoring God with her body? Was she carrying herself with dignity?
She had thought she was in control. But maybe, just maybe, she had been playing a dangerous game—one that fed her ego while cheapening her soul.
She closed her eyes, breathing deeply.
"God, show me what real freedom looks like. Not the kind that comes from doing whatever I want, but the kind that comes from honoring You."
The next day, she wrapped a sarong around herself before stepping onto the sand. Not out of shame, but because she had realized something: She was worth more than the way men looked at her.
For the first time, she felt truly seen.
Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for seeking approval and power in the wrong places.
Help me to see my worth through Your eyes, not through the eyes of the world.
Teach me to honor my body and my presence in a way that brings You glory.
Let me be a light, not a temptation.
Thank You for loving me even when I have sought attention over truth.
I trust You to guide me into real freedom.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
