5-13-2014

Good Morning All,

       Matthew 5:39; “But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

      One of the hardest things we ever do is to sit and honestly look at our lives as Christians and look at our own faults, weaknesses and temptations.  Look at your life and honestly say, “This is where I am the weakest”.  We all have at least one most of us have a few.  There are those events or actions which trigger our “Old Adam” quicker than it should.  For some it is pride.  They look at what they have been given by God and then almost hurt their shoulder patting themselves on the back.  Some are tempted by lust.  They seem to think every person of the opposite sex is there for their pleasure.  Some are greedy; they seek money no matter what the cost.  For others it is vanity, for some it is gossip for some it is a highly judgmental attitude.  Everyone has one of those places where we are so easily tempted; it is easy to slide into the trap that the devil sets.  What is yours?

    Mine is our verse; I do not turn the other cheek well.  This is not in a physical sense.  I have never thrown a punch or had one thrown at me.  Mine is the verbal assault.  When someone makes a caustic remark, or just an inane one, I have to bite so hard on my tongue that it can draw blood.  I am also sorry to say; I don’t always bite hard enough.  The thing about this temptation is that it is so easy.  Sometimes, as I listen to what the other person is saying, I think, “this is too easy of a target to let go of.”  Or, if the other person has been curt or cutting in their remark, well, all bets are off and he will hear what I really think.  I have no fear and I am quick and it usually only serves the purpose of the devil.

    There are a number of reasons that I mention this.  First, we all have some trigger that is more easily pulled than other ones.  Second, for me, as I look at this in my life; it makes me more compassionate as others share their short falls.  I am not better than anyone else, probably worse because I know better.  Yet I fall short, far more than I like.  Maybe you do as well.

    This is why it is important to confess your sins to God.  If you confess the same sin over and over, then maybe you need to ask God to help you find ways to deal with those issues.  One of the best ways to avoid sin is to avoid the situations where it is easily triggered.  If you are tempted by gossip, try and avoid the coffee klatches.  If you are tempted by lust, be careful what you read or look at.  For me, I try to wait a few seconds before I answer.  At least if I think, the Spirit has a chance to say “shush, you don’t really want to say that.” 

     We are all sinners.  Most of us are not the murderers or blatant adulterers that are often thought of.  Most of us are garden variety sinners, kind of like Adam and Eve.  It wasn’t much but it broke the relationship they had with God and it took the Son of God dying to fix it; just like we need him to fix us as well.

Father, when I look hard at my life, I see the holes that sin leaves.  Forgive me in my weaknesses and help me to combat those lures that the devil leaves for me to find.  Protect me this day that I may live as a witness to your glory.  In the precious name of Jesus, our risen Savior, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret