Convicted

 

Are there good, or at least acceptable, things that can be really bad? Could what is fine for one person be a trap for another?

The example that comes to mind is computer games. I used to have spider solitaire on my computer. I really enjoyed playing it. I could always rationalize the time I spent on it because we have no television. I would tell myself that the time I spent on spider solitaire was less than most people spent watching television!

For some people computer games may not be a problem but the Lord convicted me of the waste of time it was for me to be playing at all. I had my husband remove it or at least hide it from me (I don’t know which he did but I can’t see it when I log on so I’m not tempted). While God was convicting me of that He reminded me that my standard for living is Jesus – not other people.

Lately, the Lord has been showing me that there is something else that needs to go. I’m not ready to disclose what it is publicly but I am sure that God has been speaking to me about another little habit that I have allowed to re-enter my life. He spoke to me many years ago about this and I stopped. Over the last year I have allowed myself to pick up the habit and I have to say that I enjoy it.  Tonight God clearly told me to give it up.

1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

This habit is not immoral or illegal. In fact, most Christians can do it without any guilt. God has clearly let me know that I must stop. I guess it gets in the way of the work He has to do in me so I will stop – with His help. It is my own desire that wants this. James says our desires can get us into trouble. “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” James 1:14-15.

This particular time it is sin because I am doing what God has clearly communicated to me that I am not to do. Sin separates us from God. Big or little, universal or personal, sin is sin and not following God’s specific command to me is as big a sin to Him as if I were to disobey what I affectionately call “The Big 10.” The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20: 1-17) are universal but God knows each one of us intimately and may give us specific instruction in what to do (or not do) that we must also obey.

Over my years as a Christian one of the truths that God has repeatedly shown me is that in every aspect of life He is faithful to me and to all of His people. He does nothing and gives us no instruction that is not for our good as well as His glory.

Sin separates us from God. Again it is James who says in chapter 4:7-8a, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”

Is there some seemingly innocent thing (maybe even good for someone else) that you are doing that God has been convicting you about? Are you refusing or denying the correction? That’s what I was doing. That is our pride. Will you join me in submitting to His will that we might draw nearer to the One who will then draw near to us?

Only 2 verses later in James 4 he reminds us to, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” Now that’s a good thing that can never be bad!