The Bitter Taste of Sin
When I was a kid, I went grocery shopping with a girl from the neighborhood and her mother. The girl was much older and wiser than me, I was 8 and she was TWELVE! Back then, the grocers had these clear bins each filled with a different brightly colored candy. We were so excited when we begged her mother to buy us some, and just as quickly deflated when she replied with a resounding, “NO!”
As her mother walked away, my friend reasoned that it was ok if we each ate just one piece. After a nano-second of doubt, I quickly agreed. The problem arose when the jellybean I stole, was licorice flavored. YUCK! I did, and still do, despise licorice! Since I didn’t like it, it didn’t count. I quickly deferred to the Gummy Bears, I knew for sure I liked those!
Imagine my surprise, when I felt a hand on my elbow slowly turning me around to face the store manager! I almost choked to death on a mouthful of yummy gummy goodness, and my ‘friend’ was nowhere to be found! Not only did I get caught, I was further embarassed by being asked to spit it out in a napkin he was holding. The ride home wondering if the girls mother was going to tell mine when we got back was no picnic either.
I was mad at my ‘friend’ for being so quick to abandon me not confessing that the entire fiasco was HER idea! Even though there was no blood shed, it sure did leave a bitter taste in my mouth. I wonder, if I hadn’t gotten caught, how often I would have returned to those sin tempting candy bins or led someone else to them?
Questions:
- Who do you blame for leading you into sin?
- Do you accept accountability for your choice to participate?
- How quickly do you internally negotiate yourself into sinning?
- In what ways do you avoid/invite bad company?
Nice post Stacy and I remember those candy bins, I was a guilty party everytime we were in the grocery store, I called it “tasting.” After all my dad used to “taste” the grapes before buying them.
1. In my earlier years I blamed everyone else for my sin, it was my parent’s fault,”if they would’ve raised me better. I wouldn’t be making such horrible life decisions.” Funny I used to say that all the time, I knew it was far from the truth but I was a justification for me and it worked most of the time to get me out of trouble. Or how about the Oh so famous” The Devil Made me do it”
2. I now accept my own responsibility when I choose to join in something I know is wrong, (example I can get caught up in gossip and not realize it, especially with the girls at work) So now I try and steer clear of them) I actually had a conversation with a girl about how I refuse to be around them when this goes on…awkward conversation
3. This is a good one, I am a great negotiator when I wanna be… Thank God for change, I am not so quick with this anymore. I am still capable of it and I do it subconciuosly sometimes.
4. I try to avoid it, it can be harder if you go out to certain places in the mission field (everywhere we go is a mission field) I pray before my day begins that I can be the reflection of Jesus, can be surrounded by bad company and not be swooped in and that God will use me to show them another way.