Come to the Dark Side... we have cookies...
Before I realised the extent to which the fall of man (you remember the Adam and Eve fruit scandal) had affected me I considered myself to be a pretty average Christian who was doing OK as far as pleasing God etc. This would lead me to become very frustrated when talking with other Christians who (unlike me, I thought) struggled with sin and
continued to struggle. I was sinfully tempted many times to throw my hands up in despair and yell at them “would you just get
over yourself and move past this? Can’t
you do that? This very little thing?” (like I didn't struggle with things that I couldn't get over!! But I wasn't ready to admit that yet) and
certainly the logical thing for them to do was say “of course! Thank you for pointing that out, I’ll get on it right away!” then give up the thing they were struggling with and move on
with their lives. If only it were that easy…
I think one of the greatest traps a
Christian can fall into (and this is the one which I was living in for many years) with regards to their heart is to underestimate just
how wicked it is. Lord Vader’s warning;
“you don’t know the power of the dark side” has never been a truer statement
when it comes to the “old man” lurking in the shadows of our souls. Paul warns the Galatian Christians that they have the potential to “consume one another”!!
I concur. It only takes the
slightest aggravation for me to turn from “sweet Christian wife and mother” (a
rare moment believe me) to a “snarky, naggy, snapping at the kids and husband,
hypocrite”. I don’t seem to struggle to
be that contentious woman I see in the mirror each day but I sure as heck
struggle to be the good woman I want to be; a saint if you will.
For more food for thought (if our cookies weren't enough) go here.
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