My friend had been a loving mother who put her Bible degree to good use by teaching Sunday school and participating in several Bible studies. But last month she informed her husband that she recently had two affairs and is open for more. After I recovered from the initial shock, I marveled at how quickly a person can destroy her marriage, family, reputation, and her fellowship with God. A lifetime of faithful obedience can be trashed in a single moment.
Or can it? While my friend’s meltdown came as a surprise to us, her self-destruction was the conclusion of a number of smaller compromises that snowballed down the slippery slope to adultery (James 1:14). A desire to be admired produced a hunger for male attention, which led to a lingering conversation, then a touch.
Large failures are the result of smaller sins (v.15). Jonah didn’t start out in the belly of a big fish. He landed there because he hated his enemies, which led him to run away from God, which forced God’s hand to get his attention (Jonah 1:3). If Jonah had put his feelings aside and obeyed God at the outset, all of his trouble would have been avoided.
Are there signs that you are open to temptation? Do you crave attention from members of the opposite sex? Do you go out of your way to talk with a particular person? Are you weighing the odds of getting caught if you fudge your taxes or cheat your employer? Has it been a while since you made time to pray?
We can walk with God for 30 years and then throw that sweet fellowship away in a flash. But we won’t if we check the smaller sins that are leading us there. Which direction are you running: toward God or away from Him?
More:
Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us (Hebrews 12:1).
Next:
What do you need to change to avoid being led deeper into sin? Why is it significant that most passages on perseverance come near the end of the Bible?
Jessica Montgomery on June 14, 2010 at 12:36 am
Thank God for the Cross.
pteast on June 14, 2010 at 4:28 am
Amen!
unionwife on June 14, 2010 at 4:59 am
What a wonderful reminder! It can be hard to ignore the “just this once” voices that pester with every step. Praise You Father for being forgiving and Praise You for letting us know when we are trying to get ourselves to a place You know we don’t want to be!
mccdumaguing on June 27, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Amen!!! To GoD b the Glory!!!
donreid77 on June 14, 2010 at 7:59 am
Well said – thank you.
We do not face too many large, life changing decision. We do have to make numerous small choices every day. The thing that I tried to impress on my daughters when they were small is that the direction, the bent of their life would be primarily determined by each of those small choices. What you choose to watch, to read, to wear, who you choose to spend time with, etc. all determine where you wind up the next day, the next month and ultimately at the end of life.
Thankfully, we are not alone but have the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead and prompt us. But, He still allows us to choose. Father, help me to choose wisely this day and every day.
mike wittmer on June 14, 2010 at 3:31 pm
donreid77:
That is wise counsel for your daughters. I still practice the disciplines that my parents instilled in me when I was very young. It’s never too early to practice right living!
yoconner on July 13, 2010 at 6:36 am
Amen to all that was said. And you are right it is never to early to practice right living, just as important it’s never to late.