Whether you've been walking a Christian life for decades or hours, we need to be reminded that we are no longer slaves to sin and temptation. It WILL jump up in your face as long as we are walking on earth, but once we dedicate our lives to following Jesus, we have His strength to help us say ‘NO!’ to all the wickedness the enemy throws at us.
One day my husband I were in town for a Doctor appointment that lead to a visit to the pharmacy across the hall. It was a small place and you could readily see everyone. There were a couple of men there together; it was hard to miss them because they were loud and obnoxious. They were going up and down the aisles, (a whopping 4 short aisles in all) touching and talking about everything. One of them paid for something and, yet as they walked out the doors, the alarm went off. The one that says to step back in and let the employees take the security tags off. They didn't even look back as they walked down the hall.
The people at the counter were watching and started talking about how they weren't going after these guys; their fear obvious. I was rather stunned by all this. It was obvious they had stolen something. It was just as obvious the store personnel were not going to try to stop them.
Then the scene became even more bizarre when the two guys came walking back up the hall to get to the building exit. They looked into the pharmacy with smug delight, knowing they had gotten away it their crime.
Why am I sharing this story with you? Because it occurred to me that, in that moment, these guys were walking, talking sin. Sin, like these men, mingles with you in ordinary places and ways. Sin, like the loud behavior of the guys, intimidates and produces fear. Fear of being found out, fear of being caught, fear of confronting sin when we witness it. Fear and intimidation are NOT of the Lord. Sin is smug and obnoxious like these guys walking back pass the pharmacy, knowing it had gotten its way with you; that you weren't going to try to stop it. Sin can and will attempt to beat down anyone in its path. Anyone!! No one is immune to temptation of sin, fear produced by sin or the empty feeling you get when you've fallen victim to sin.
Though no one is exempt, someone walking in the power of the Holy Spirit has the resource to walk away victorious.
The power of the Holy Spirit living in us is the source of our strength. Calling on that strength, relying on the power of the Spirit, listening to that small voice of guidance all comes when we make a point to listen. The Holy Spirit will not yank you by the collar or scream at you or even come in the clap of thunder. It comes when YOU tune in. We have choices everyday; to listen for the Holy Spirit or change the channel. I saw walking, talking sin in action in that pharmacy that day; it was neither a pretty nor comforting sight.
As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord! May the small quiet voice of the Lord ring in your spirit today!
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