Sept. 17 - Sept 19: re: Temptation

Twenty-eight years ago, a beautiful, sweet young girl straight out of high school married an aspiring young minister. This past Saturday night that same person, now hardened and unattractive, was drunkenly dirty dancing with her own son on the dance floor at her daughter's wedding in front of members of her husband's congregation as well as many high officials of his conservative denomination.

How could this tragedy ever happen? She didn't follow Chamber's advice: "Watch when God shifts your circumstances, and see whether you are going with Jesus, or siding with the world, the flesh, and the devil."

You see, about twenty years ago, she moved next door to a friendly neighbor, a Catholic who saw nothing wrong with social drinking. As they became fast friends, the minister's wife decided that there was really nothing wrong with joining her friend for a little glass of wine as they lounged around the pool, in spite of the fact that not only would her husband certainly not approve, but that if this became public knowledge it could cost him his ministry. I'm sure she never dreamed that giving in to such a "small" temptation would ever lead to her public humiliation and the countless broken hearts of her family and friends.

Jesus....Jesus... Sometimes when my heart is clenched in sorrow, I can find no words for prayer, and all I can do is to call out Your name. Please teach the children of my heart this extremely important lesson today, so that when they face the seemingly small temptations of tomorrow they will hear Your voice and obey, thus avoiding the tragedies of the future.