Don’t you just love computers? I imagine that by virtue of the fact that you are reading this you are at least computer competent, if not proficient. Perhaps you see your computer as a useful piece of equipment to help you in you life / work, or maybe you are a technophile and are fascinated and thrilled by what it can do and what you could do with it next.
But they are also a real pain when they go wrong. We had a recent virus / spyware scare on our home computer and the thought that someone else may be able to access our data was frightening. I realised just how reliant we have become on the machine and how vulnerable we are to those who want to do nasty things to it or use it to do nasty things to our bank accounts.
I am aware too just how vulnerable I am to nasty influences in my own life. In our morning services at the moment we are exploring the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). As wonderful and inspiring it is to know that God is changing us in that way, it is also sobering to think of the alternatives, which Paul lists in the preceding verses.
When I hear (thankfully occasional) stories of colleagues in the Ministry who have been removed because of conduct unbecoming to the office of Minister I shudder. Not just because of the impact of their conduct on the lives of their family, those with whom the unbecoming conduct took place, the church, and those whose impression of God is adversely affected by hearing the news. But because I think “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”
All of us are vulnerable to temptation. Jesus was tempted so it is incredibly presumptuous and naive to imagine that we will not be. All of us have areas of our lives in which we are more vulnerable than others. We need to be vigilant and have accountable relationships with others who will help us avoid giving into temptation. But the ‘grace of God’ in the thought above is also crucial. It is he who has saved me. It is he who is changing me by his Spirit. It is he who will help me avoid temptation more than anyone or anything else.
When temptation comes my way I sense an inner warning. It’s not an alarm bell, flashing lights or a voice, but I would describe it as a pause in my life in which God’s Spirit gives me a moment to consider what is happening. At that moment I have a choice about what to do next. Ignore God or listen to him? That is part of his grace at work in my life – he helps me make conscious decisions rather than stumble ahead blindly. Paul invites his readers to ‘keep in step with the Spirit’ (follow closely in his footsteps) and I am aware that it is when I am in step that I find it easiest to pay attention to the pause and to respond as God would want me to and exhibit some more evidence that he is bearing fruit within me.
What temptations? Well, I think that they begin with attitudes rather than behaviour and while none of it would class as ‘conduct unbecoming’ of a Minister it is unbecoming of a follower of Jesus. And it is usually the temptation to act in a way that denies that God’s Spirit is bearing fruit in my life. The temptations are to be… unloving, joyless, angry, impatient, unkind, ‘ungood’, faithless, abrasive and lose control of myself.
Please God help me choose your way every time.
A small town prosecuting lawyer called his first witness to the stand in a trial – a grandmotherly, elderly woman. He approached her and asked, “Mrs. Jones, do you know me?”
She responded, “Why, yes, I do know you Mr. Williams. I’ve known you since you were a young boy. And frankly, you’ve been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you’re a rising big shot when you haven’t the brains to realise you never will amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you.”
The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do he pointed across the room and asked, “Mrs. Williams, do you know the defence lawyer?”
She again replied, “Why, yes I do. I’ve known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. I used to baby-sit him for his parents. And he, too, has been a real disappointment to me. He’s lazy, bigoted, he has a drinking problem. The man can’t build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the shoddiest in the entire state. Yes, I know him.”
At this point, the judge called the courtroom to order and called both lawyers to the bench. In a very quiet voice, he said with menace, “If either of you asks her if she knows me, you’ll be in jail for contempt within 5 minutes!”
nukelearfishing 
Leave a comment