So, here's the funny thing: every day, at least two to three times a day, you hear music come on and some of us (I'm not saying who) run out to see who "pushed the button"...inevitably, someone can't resist the temptation. We all just want to see who it is so we can "catch them"! Mind you, it is much more fun to catch someone than be the one to be "caught in the act"...(OK, I admit I pushed it once on my way out of the office and ran like a you-know-what...I admit I still have to resist the urge to not pull fire alarms too!)
I think there's a huge story here and it relates to that age old issue of temptation. I may/may not have been tempted to "push this button" when I saw the snowman, but for sure I was tempted when I was told not to with a big ole sign! Isn't that so historical? Adam and Eve fell for it, Paul talked about, Abraham and so on...from the time man/woman got planted on earth, we all have one very thing in common, we respond to temptation. HOW we respond can change our lives forever, in both big and small ways: whether we give in, resist, or whatever the case may be.
The snowman was such a good reminder for me about how close I am to giving in to temptation every single day, and what happens when I do, and what happens when I don't. Here's an example. I made fun of something yesterday (OK, I admit it, it was a really bizarre Christmas card picture) that I shouldn't have. I knew I shouldn't, but I did, and IMMEDIATELY felt bad. I kicked myself all the way home...to others it may have seemed little, but to me it was one more example of how easily I can fail when tempted. I was looking at this picture in my office, knew I should put it away and make NO COMMENTS, but instead went outside of my office and showed it to some of my staff, who also thought it equally bizarre (and no it's not yours if you are reading this! HA!). In fact one of my co-workers said, "I was going to ask you what this was about, but I didn't want to get started because I knew we wouldn't be good!" YIKES! He resisted, I didn't, and we all shared in a laugh at someone else's expense. Now just how utterly sinful is that? (Don't answer, I know, it's bad)
OK, conversely, I was asked by someone I work with about the reputation of someone who is fairly new to our work environment. I could've plowed them into the floor, but actually obeyed the Holy Spirit and gave an honest, but not sinful answer...in other words, I didn't burn their hides so to speak. You might be thinking to yourself, does she think she's "all that" for actually avoiding mean-spiritness? Here would be my answer...NO WAY...I'm so not good at this. The only time I triumph over temptation is when I actually listen to that "still small voice" and not brush it aside. When I actually avoid temptation and do what I'm supposed to do.
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out sot that you can stand up under it."
Paul wrote this in a letter to the Corinthians (letter 1, chapter 10, verse 13)
Father help me to resist temptation, by your faithfulness I know that I can trust you to provide a way out every time I'm tempted to think, say, or do the wrong thing. I know that you will provide a way out so I can withstand the temptation to do what I want, and instead to choose to do what is right! Thanks for your word, for your Holy Spirit, and for the fact that Christmas Holiday is over: and could you make that Snowman go away?
Amen and AMEN!
:-)
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