Good morning everybody! Today is Thursday and it's a good day. I wasn't sure what I was going to write about today until I read "Our Daily Bread". I know it's popular and many people read it but it was particularly touching to me today and I have some confessions to make.
While reading Our Daily Bread, I was focused on my life and the things that I used to do while no one was watching. My secret life. Savanah, Faith, Hunter, and Mia - this lesson is for you guys in particular. Your dad's deceit started real early in life and it taught me that I could fool people but if you remember the lesson just 2 days ago about the goldfish you'll know that if you go through life trying to fool people or hide who you really are, eventually it's all going to catch up with you. I know this: being who God has called us to be is hard enough for me. Adding anything at all just complicates things and decreases my chances of "getting it right".
Read Revelation 3:1-6; James 1:12-15 and meditate on this: "The true test of character is what we do when no one is watching". When I was a little boy I learned early that if I lied or stole something I could somehow or someway make things a little better for me. I started this when I was probably 7-10 years old. I also figured out that if I didn't get caught or I did these things while no one was watching I wouldn't get into trouble and would appear to be a sweet little boy who wore a bowl haircut. Now I'm sure that all little boys, girls, teenagers, and adults suffer from these types of temptations every day. I know I have my whole life.
As I got older the temptations that I had or the desire I had (James 1:12-15) for whatever became bigger and more frequent. That's the nature of sin. The more you feed it the hungrier it gets and it never gets full, not until it has consumed your life and you are dead. As I grew older and began feeding my desires with "things that made me feel good" and "look better", I began to become like the clown at the circus juggling. Every so often I'd add another ball to juggle until eventually they all came crashing down because I just couldn't keep up. That is what will happen to us as well if we don't turn from sin or turn from these desires in our lives and fill those spots with good things!-The things that we don't mind if people see us doing.
If you have to hide something in your life little ones, you better re-evaluate what it is your doing because it's probably going to end up a big disaster after a while. And don't let anybody tell you that if you get away with it once you can do it again, because that is bait from Satan. He will tell you that you can hide it and get away with it and you might for a while, but sooner or later the good always overtakes the bad. Light always consumes darkness. Just like one day Jesus will kick Satan's butt. It will always be that way and God will always know what you're doing. I'm here to tell you, you can't get away with doing the wrong thing. It always catches up with you! So don't do it or you'll end up in prison like your dad, wishing that you had practiced more good things in your life like reading, praying, turning from sin, and surrounding yourselves with people doing the same. Funny thing is all those people who were practicing those good things daily in their lives are living the things I'm dreaming about! Sin just doesn't win..never,ever,ever!
Prayer: Father God, hallowed be thy name and thank you Jesus for covering my sins. Help us Lord to bring all of the darkness in our lives to the light and that under trial we remain faithful to you even when you are the only one watching. Amen.
Random thought: When we sin or do the wrong thing like lie, cheat, steal, or manipulate, do we really think we are getting away with it? In my life, I've tried to pull some doozies and thought I got away with it, but people just gave me enough room to hang myself usually, and I did. It will happen the same way for you if you don't find a way to say no to the desires you struggle with in your life! Besides, it's really easier to do the right thing. Less baggage, no drama, and a lot more rewarding.
No comments:
Post a Comment