Jesus told us that we would see our mountains moved if we had faith as small as a mustard seed. (Mountains were symbolic of seemingly insurmountable problems.) He gave a spacial dimension to a spiritual reality. He wanted us to see how little faith it takes to see what we have considered to be impossible to become reality.
Faith is a gift. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, " For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast." Some may want to say that this is only saving faith that is a gift. I can't see it. Faith is spiritual. Our spirit is made alive by God's Spirit. We are able to know spiritual things because of this.
Jesus rebuked people for having too little faith. Once He and His disciples were on the Sea of Galilee in a storm. He was in the front of the boat asleep while the disciples rowed. They became so scared that they awakened Jesus to save them from the storm. He said to them, "You of little faith, what are you so afraid?" If we are not careful we can assume that Jesus rebuked them for waking Him but this is not the case. It was their fear, not their coming to Him, that revealed their faith. If anything, they should have woken Him earlier. They had a little faith. That faith came to Jesus. He rebuked them for that faith's size.
Doubt is the fleshly refusal of faith. Doubt is believing refusing to believe what God is revealing to us as truth. God gives us faith for things He wants for us. We have the opportunity to take that faith and let it grow or refuse to believe what God is revealing. Doubt is a conflict within the Christian. It is ambivalent. It believes what it sees and what God reveals at the same time. It does not allow faith to grow. The seed of faith needs the water of belief to grow. Doubt removes all moisture for this seed. Jesus said, (Matthew 21:21 NIV) "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done."
Jesus rebukes His disciples for their lack of faith because He knows that God has given them the faith they need to do what He has called them to do. They have refused to let the faith grow. They have instead believed what they have always seen rather than what God is showing them.
We do not manufacture our own faith. That makes faith something we use to manipulate the world. God is sovereign. True faith never conflicts with God's will because faith must come from Him. But this makes our responsibility so much greater. We must accept and allow the faith that God gives us to grow. That is our responsibility.
Remember the story of the man who wanted the demon cast out of his son. The man told Jesus, "But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
"'If you can?'" said Jesus, "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:22-24) Jesus removes the demon. He does not rebuke this father for his admission of unbelief. He is affirming his faith but admitting he lacks what he thinks is necessary to get what he really wants.
This is the faith of a mustard seed. It is small but wants desperately to grow. This faith moves mountains.
Matthew 17:20 (NIV)
20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Hearing and Understanding the Word
People must hear the gospel message. That has to be the first step in salvation. They may "hear" it through the written word, the transmitted word or the in-person spoken word. Yet, many people hear it but never understand it. Many people like it but do not understand it.
Understanding the word means that fruit is produced. In fact, much fruit is produced. Understanding is much more than giving definition to the words which have been heard. Understanding is a commitment of the life of the hearer. Understanding the word is a life put in order by the word.
So many people hear the word and make a perfunctory commitment to it. They say they will come to church and do what they must yet do not understand that the commitment is not just when it is convenient. They fail to see that understanding the word is accepting the cost of the "pearl of great price." Jesus said that the person who finds this pearl sells all that he has and buys the pearl. He said it is like finding a treasure in a field and selling all that you have to buy that field.
Many people are puzzled with these words. They fail to understand the word. They fail to see the commitment that it requires. Their failure is evidence that they lack understanding.
Many people are looking for a religion which can be regulated. They want it to occupy a portion of their lives without consuming their lives. They want to be able to turn it on and off. This way they can do whatever they want when the time comes. This way they can refuse any commitment that the Lord requires of them. They want a religion not a full fledged commitment.
This is not different from other things in their lives. They have done the same thing in their marriages. They are faithful when they want to act married and unfaithful when they don't. They want to order their lives by convenience. A convenient life is a meaningless life. A convenient life does not understand the word.
Yes, faith comes by hearing but that hearing comes by the word of Christ. The word of Christ is more than knowledge. It is the same commitment Christ gave to His Father. "Not my will but yours be done."
Is this a tall order? There is none greater. There is none more rewarding. There is none that needs our Lord more. Yet, the result is an abundance of fruit. It is definitely worth it.
Matthew 13:23 (NIV)
23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
Understanding the word means that fruit is produced. In fact, much fruit is produced. Understanding is much more than giving definition to the words which have been heard. Understanding is a commitment of the life of the hearer. Understanding the word is a life put in order by the word.
So many people hear the word and make a perfunctory commitment to it. They say they will come to church and do what they must yet do not understand that the commitment is not just when it is convenient. They fail to see that understanding the word is accepting the cost of the "pearl of great price." Jesus said that the person who finds this pearl sells all that he has and buys the pearl. He said it is like finding a treasure in a field and selling all that you have to buy that field.
Many people are puzzled with these words. They fail to understand the word. They fail to see the commitment that it requires. Their failure is evidence that they lack understanding.
Many people are looking for a religion which can be regulated. They want it to occupy a portion of their lives without consuming their lives. They want to be able to turn it on and off. This way they can do whatever they want when the time comes. This way they can refuse any commitment that the Lord requires of them. They want a religion not a full fledged commitment.
This is not different from other things in their lives. They have done the same thing in their marriages. They are faithful when they want to act married and unfaithful when they don't. They want to order their lives by convenience. A convenient life is a meaningless life. A convenient life does not understand the word.
Yes, faith comes by hearing but that hearing comes by the word of Christ. The word of Christ is more than knowledge. It is the same commitment Christ gave to His Father. "Not my will but yours be done."
Is this a tall order? There is none greater. There is none more rewarding. There is none that needs our Lord more. Yet, the result is an abundance of fruit. It is definitely worth it.
Matthew 13:23 (NIV)
23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
Monday, April 12, 2010
We All Have Clay Feet
I wonder if we are looking for perfect people as I listen to the media. It seems they are finding the clay feet of everyone of whom they report. They chase those who have sinned. They report in minute detail what happened and when it happened. Then, to add insult to injury they make innuendoes of what might still be happening.
Every slip is reported once a person has been targeted. They stir up things that may not be true. They do so with impunity. They seek to destroy the reputations of people. It is shameful.
These people, who cheer the media, are also the people who tell us that we shouldn't judge others when confronted on a personal level. They would never permit the destruction of someone whom they personally know. These distant public figures are fair game. In fact, it is as if these people are merely video game people who can be blown up or shot without any connection with reality.
Yes, some of the things that public figures have done is reprehensible. Yes, they are public figures and people will make them heroes and villains. But this has gone too far.
We all have clay feet. We may not all have cheated, stolen, committed adultery or committed murder. We have all fallen short of God's glory. For this we have the grace of God. This is the same grace that those who are being reported on need. This is the same grace we should be reaching out to them with.
Yes, we call sin, sin. Yet we forgive the sinner and love him. It is what God has done with us.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.
Every slip is reported once a person has been targeted. They stir up things that may not be true. They do so with impunity. They seek to destroy the reputations of people. It is shameful.
These people, who cheer the media, are also the people who tell us that we shouldn't judge others when confronted on a personal level. They would never permit the destruction of someone whom they personally know. These distant public figures are fair game. In fact, it is as if these people are merely video game people who can be blown up or shot without any connection with reality.
Yes, some of the things that public figures have done is reprehensible. Yes, they are public figures and people will make them heroes and villains. But this has gone too far.
We all have clay feet. We may not all have cheated, stolen, committed adultery or committed murder. We have all fallen short of God's glory. For this we have the grace of God. This is the same grace that those who are being reported on need. This is the same grace we should be reaching out to them with.
Yes, we call sin, sin. Yet we forgive the sinner and love him. It is what God has done with us.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
You've Just Got to Love Them
Each week someone comes to church who either hasn't been in a very long time or has never been to church. This person has a need. He or she has probably gone other places to find the answer to his or her need.
The most common need is not raising children, fixing finances or putting a marriage back together. These may be the needs which present themselves when asked but these will not be the true need. People can hear all the sermons about marriage, finances and raising children and remain unchanged and in just as much need. People need something that is life changing. They need something that makes life worth living.
So, they come to church a little scared and very skeptical. They are hoping that they will discover what they need in one session so they can get out of here and get back to their lives. They have no clue that their lack of commitment to anything is the reason their lives lack meaning now. There are a lot of people at church who have the same need as they do. These people come to church but have no abiding reason; no commitment to the Lord.
Why are they here? Someone invited them. Something drew them in. They are ready to hear what they need but they don't know what to listen for. Just one discouraging word from someone in the church will send them back to their cars. Just one embarrassing mistake on their part will make them leave and never return. They are like someone standing on a board laid between two buildings each twenty stories tall. One step off of the board is disastrous.
These people are God's gift to those in the church. Those who have made a commitment to the Lord understand the love of the Lord. They reach out to these people. They befriend them. It is more than a friendly faces. It is people whom they can eventually call friends.
Church people who have made a commitment to the Lord should always be on the lookout for those who have truly wandered into the church. The only way people will know that Jesus truly loves them is by being loved.
I was watching a testimony of someone who appeared on The 700 Club posted on Youtube last night. There were many comments from people who didn't believe the testimony. Some of the Christians were condemning them for their unbelief. I thought, "These people have wandered upon this testimony of this Christian lady on Youtube. Something brought them here. Why would we condemn them for their unbelief? Is this what Jesus really wants us to do?"
The arguments went back and forth. You can't argue someone into heaven. You love people into heaven. That's how Jesus did it. I think this is the way we should do it too.
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The most common need is not raising children, fixing finances or putting a marriage back together. These may be the needs which present themselves when asked but these will not be the true need. People can hear all the sermons about marriage, finances and raising children and remain unchanged and in just as much need. People need something that is life changing. They need something that makes life worth living.
So, they come to church a little scared and very skeptical. They are hoping that they will discover what they need in one session so they can get out of here and get back to their lives. They have no clue that their lack of commitment to anything is the reason their lives lack meaning now. There are a lot of people at church who have the same need as they do. These people come to church but have no abiding reason; no commitment to the Lord.
Why are they here? Someone invited them. Something drew them in. They are ready to hear what they need but they don't know what to listen for. Just one discouraging word from someone in the church will send them back to their cars. Just one embarrassing mistake on their part will make them leave and never return. They are like someone standing on a board laid between two buildings each twenty stories tall. One step off of the board is disastrous.
These people are God's gift to those in the church. Those who have made a commitment to the Lord understand the love of the Lord. They reach out to these people. They befriend them. It is more than a friendly faces. It is people whom they can eventually call friends.
Church people who have made a commitment to the Lord should always be on the lookout for those who have truly wandered into the church. The only way people will know that Jesus truly loves them is by being loved.
I was watching a testimony of someone who appeared on The 700 Club posted on Youtube last night. There were many comments from people who didn't believe the testimony. Some of the Christians were condemning them for their unbelief. I thought, "These people have wandered upon this testimony of this Christian lady on Youtube. Something brought them here. Why would we condemn them for their unbelief? Is this what Jesus really wants us to do?"
The arguments went back and forth. You can't argue someone into heaven. You love people into heaven. That's how Jesus did it. I think this is the way we should do it too.
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
So Many People Get Nothing Out of Going to Church
It is not uncommon for peopleto tell me that they hope the sermon is short. I must agree no sermon should be longer than it needs to be but they don't realize that they are also sharing their heart. I know that they don't expect anything to happen. Going to church is just a habit. It's not that they have lost their hope to see a miracle; they just expect nothing.
People who expect nothing are not disappointed. They will nearly always miss anything that happens. They are like someone who ate when Jesus fed the 5,000 and never asked where the food came from. They expected no miracle so they didn't see the miracle that happened right in front of them.
The Bible says that these people lack faith. Faith means you come with an expectation that God rewards those who seek Him. They came without seeking Him. Therefore, they frequently miss Him.
Many of these people are faithful to their churches. They serve, tithe and attend with clockwork efficiency. They can be counted on to meet any need the church might have. Yet, they still don't get it. They don't know that they should be expecting God to act when they worship.
How do you suppose the Pharisees missed Jesus' miracles? Of course, they explained them so that Jesus could not be the Messiah. They did so because they didn't expect anything to happen with Him. Therefore, they missed the miracles which happened right in front of them.
I have wondered if this lack of any expectation also prevents anything from happening. Does the lack of faith of many prevent the miracles that God would like to do? Would people be healed in our services if there were those who truly believed that they could be healed?
I know that God is not pleased with those who get nothing out of church. It wasn't His responsibility to perform so that they would see Him. It was their responsibility to come with an expectation of meeting with Him. People are changed when they come into God's presence. Those who expect nothing leave the same way they came in.
Do you expect anything when you attend church? Do you expect to be changed because you have come into the presence of the Lord? If not, you should ask your preacher to make the sermon real short.
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
People who expect nothing are not disappointed. They will nearly always miss anything that happens. They are like someone who ate when Jesus fed the 5,000 and never asked where the food came from. They expected no miracle so they didn't see the miracle that happened right in front of them.
The Bible says that these people lack faith. Faith means you come with an expectation that God rewards those who seek Him. They came without seeking Him. Therefore, they frequently miss Him.
Many of these people are faithful to their churches. They serve, tithe and attend with clockwork efficiency. They can be counted on to meet any need the church might have. Yet, they still don't get it. They don't know that they should be expecting God to act when they worship.
How do you suppose the Pharisees missed Jesus' miracles? Of course, they explained them so that Jesus could not be the Messiah. They did so because they didn't expect anything to happen with Him. Therefore, they missed the miracles which happened right in front of them.
I have wondered if this lack of any expectation also prevents anything from happening. Does the lack of faith of many prevent the miracles that God would like to do? Would people be healed in our services if there were those who truly believed that they could be healed?
I know that God is not pleased with those who get nothing out of church. It wasn't His responsibility to perform so that they would see Him. It was their responsibility to come with an expectation of meeting with Him. People are changed when they come into God's presence. Those who expect nothing leave the same way they came in.
Do you expect anything when you attend church? Do you expect to be changed because you have come into the presence of the Lord? If not, you should ask your preacher to make the sermon real short.
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Marriage Needs Transcendent Reasons to Last
There was a time when marriages lasted. It was more common to be widowed that divorced. It was unusual that your children would have different last names. You expected to stay with your spouse "until death do us part" and you promised your spouse that he or she better not make you hasten his or her death.
Marriages weren't perfect. People still struggled through difficult times. But that's the point: they struggled through those difficult times. They worked hard to stay together. What has changed?
I believe that each couple for whom I have performed a wedding ceremony intended to stay married for life. In most cases they thought the love they had for each other would never fade. They believed that their loved ones would never hurt them. They didn't realize that both of these things would change after marriage. The type of love they had for each other changed. There were times when loved ones were negligent and hurt them. So, they thought it is all over. They didn't know that this is just the process of life. It is the process of growth.
Three things kept marriages together for many, many years. The first of these was example. People grew up in an agricultural society. Mom and Dad needed each other to survive. They needed each other's work. They needed the children to work. They did all of this together. They were in relatively small homes where just about everything was shared. The children saw how their parents made it through the good and tough times. They applied their parents' principles to their own problems when they got married. They knew it was better to stay together. They knew they needed their spouses to survive.
The industrial revolution came along and changed much of that. Dads were absent most of the time. They came home so tired that they had little time for Mom and the children. The example of seeing parents work through tough times faded away. Of course, WWII didn't help. Women found that they could support themselves outside the home. Soon, both husband and wife knew they could survive without each other. They decided to split rather than work through tough times.
Marriages were also kept together by tradition. Your neighbors were all married. You told your children that they would all be married someday. Marriage was so traditional that it was unusual to know someone who had never been married. Everyone you worked with remained married. That was one of the reasons that widows were honored. They had been faithful to the end. It was a right of passage. The tradition has faded since 50% of marriages end in divorce today. (This does not mean that 50% of the people who have been married got a divorce. Some of the people have gotten multiple divorces.) Everyone knows people who have been divorced. It is no longer traditional to stay married.
Faith kept many marriages intact. God wants His people to remain faithful to Him and to each other. He set principles of a devotion to Him and to the spouse of your youth. He said that He hated divorce. (He does not condemn the divorced but it is painful to the people who are divorced. Never forget that God hurts when we hurt. He hates those things that hurt us.) Faith was the strength that many couples used to get through the tough times.
You can nothing about the example you received from your parents. They may have been great or sorry examples for marriage. That is not your responsibility.
You can do nothing about tradition. All your neighbors and co-workers may be divorced. They may want to talk you into joining their ranks. However, you can do something about your faith. You can devote yourself to the Lord and pray that by His strength that you and your spouse will love each other and work through all difficulties. You can pray together so that you are bonded deeply in spirit. You can go to church this Sunday. You can find a small group (or Sunday School class) within your church that you will get involved with. You can hold on to Him and know that He will hold you together.
You see, you need something more transcendent than your love for each other. You need God's love for you to hold you together. This is something you must agree upon together.
Today I am praying for marriages.
Proverbs 18:22 (NIV)
22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
Colossians 3:19 (NIV)
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Proverbs 5:15-20 (NIV)
15 Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. 16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? 17 Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. 18 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19 A loving doe, a graceful deer-- may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. 20 Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?
Marriages weren't perfect. People still struggled through difficult times. But that's the point: they struggled through those difficult times. They worked hard to stay together. What has changed?
I believe that each couple for whom I have performed a wedding ceremony intended to stay married for life. In most cases they thought the love they had for each other would never fade. They believed that their loved ones would never hurt them. They didn't realize that both of these things would change after marriage. The type of love they had for each other changed. There were times when loved ones were negligent and hurt them. So, they thought it is all over. They didn't know that this is just the process of life. It is the process of growth.
Three things kept marriages together for many, many years. The first of these was example. People grew up in an agricultural society. Mom and Dad needed each other to survive. They needed each other's work. They needed the children to work. They did all of this together. They were in relatively small homes where just about everything was shared. The children saw how their parents made it through the good and tough times. They applied their parents' principles to their own problems when they got married. They knew it was better to stay together. They knew they needed their spouses to survive.
The industrial revolution came along and changed much of that. Dads were absent most of the time. They came home so tired that they had little time for Mom and the children. The example of seeing parents work through tough times faded away. Of course, WWII didn't help. Women found that they could support themselves outside the home. Soon, both husband and wife knew they could survive without each other. They decided to split rather than work through tough times.
Marriages were also kept together by tradition. Your neighbors were all married. You told your children that they would all be married someday. Marriage was so traditional that it was unusual to know someone who had never been married. Everyone you worked with remained married. That was one of the reasons that widows were honored. They had been faithful to the end. It was a right of passage. The tradition has faded since 50% of marriages end in divorce today. (This does not mean that 50% of the people who have been married got a divorce. Some of the people have gotten multiple divorces.) Everyone knows people who have been divorced. It is no longer traditional to stay married.
Faith kept many marriages intact. God wants His people to remain faithful to Him and to each other. He set principles of a devotion to Him and to the spouse of your youth. He said that He hated divorce. (He does not condemn the divorced but it is painful to the people who are divorced. Never forget that God hurts when we hurt. He hates those things that hurt us.) Faith was the strength that many couples used to get through the tough times.
You can nothing about the example you received from your parents. They may have been great or sorry examples for marriage. That is not your responsibility.
You can do nothing about tradition. All your neighbors and co-workers may be divorced. They may want to talk you into joining their ranks. However, you can do something about your faith. You can devote yourself to the Lord and pray that by His strength that you and your spouse will love each other and work through all difficulties. You can pray together so that you are bonded deeply in spirit. You can go to church this Sunday. You can find a small group (or Sunday School class) within your church that you will get involved with. You can hold on to Him and know that He will hold you together.
You see, you need something more transcendent than your love for each other. You need God's love for you to hold you together. This is something you must agree upon together.
Today I am praying for marriages.
Proverbs 18:22 (NIV)
22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
Colossians 3:19 (NIV)
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Proverbs 5:15-20 (NIV)
15 Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. 16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? 17 Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. 18 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19 A loving doe, a graceful deer-- may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. 20 Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Overcoming the Sin Which Is Crouching at the Door
Mike and Samantha seemed to have a really great marriage. They were active in their small group at church and often made comments which revealed a deep walk with their Lord. They seemed enamored with each other. They held hands when they walked the church halls. Even the way they looked at each other revealed their love and commitment. Their relationship was a model for others to follow.
That was before Samantha was contacted by an old boyfriend on Facebook. It was really innocent. He just asked what she had been doing. Samantha told Mike about the message. He wanted to act like it was no big deal but it really bothered him. He covered his feelings and told Samantha it was okay to reply.
This wasn't a matter of getting Mike's permission. Mike knew that Samantha's and her former boyfriend's relationship had not been a godly one. Samantha told Mike to make sure that replying to her old boyfriend wouldn't hurt Mike. But Mike, wanting to show his trust of Samantha, hid his true feelings and said it would be good to hear from this old boyfriend.
Samantha replied but also made sure that was the end of her contact with the old boyfriend. Her reply was curt; not cute. She did not want to remember her days in this toxic relationship. The old boyfriend got the message and did not continue sending messages.
However, Mike's imagination ran wild. He couldn't help but imagine that their relationship was being rekindled through this contact. He imagined that Samantha was seeking a time to go and see the old boyfriend. His fears began to take greater shape. He began to look at Samantha differently.
Finally, he accused her of doing what he feared. Samantha was appalled. She had never been unfaithful to Mike since they had met. He was truly the love of her life. How could he think she would act so shamefully. She defended herself angrily. Mike supposed her anger was proof that she was hiding what he suspected.
That was six months ago. Mike and Samantha aren't nearly as regular in church and have stopped going to their small group altogether. They have even stopped holding hands.
Sin crouches at the door for each of us. None of us is immune. We must overcome it.
Genesis 4:7 (NIV)
7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
That was before Samantha was contacted by an old boyfriend on Facebook. It was really innocent. He just asked what she had been doing. Samantha told Mike about the message. He wanted to act like it was no big deal but it really bothered him. He covered his feelings and told Samantha it was okay to reply.
This wasn't a matter of getting Mike's permission. Mike knew that Samantha's and her former boyfriend's relationship had not been a godly one. Samantha told Mike to make sure that replying to her old boyfriend wouldn't hurt Mike. But Mike, wanting to show his trust of Samantha, hid his true feelings and said it would be good to hear from this old boyfriend.
Samantha replied but also made sure that was the end of her contact with the old boyfriend. Her reply was curt; not cute. She did not want to remember her days in this toxic relationship. The old boyfriend got the message and did not continue sending messages.
However, Mike's imagination ran wild. He couldn't help but imagine that their relationship was being rekindled through this contact. He imagined that Samantha was seeking a time to go and see the old boyfriend. His fears began to take greater shape. He began to look at Samantha differently.
Finally, he accused her of doing what he feared. Samantha was appalled. She had never been unfaithful to Mike since they had met. He was truly the love of her life. How could he think she would act so shamefully. She defended herself angrily. Mike supposed her anger was proof that she was hiding what he suspected.
That was six months ago. Mike and Samantha aren't nearly as regular in church and have stopped going to their small group altogether. They have even stopped holding hands.
Sin crouches at the door for each of us. None of us is immune. We must overcome it.
Genesis 4:7 (NIV)
7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
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