The Right Choices

¹"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ²For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. – Matthew 7:1-2

 A passage from the novel, “World Without End” by Ken Follett:

“My father hated people who preached about morality.  We’re all good when it suits us, he used to say:  that doesn’t count.  It’s when you want so badly to do something wrong – when you’re about to make a fortune from a dishonest deal, or kiss the lovely lips of your neighbor’s wife, or tell a lie to get yourself out of terrible trouble – that’s when you need the rules.  Your integrity is like a sword, he would say: you shouldn’t wave it until you’re about to put it to the test”

It’s so easy to moralize over things that have never tempted us. How easy it is to call abortion a mortal sin if we’ve never had a desperately unwanted pregnancy.  It’s so simple to rail against alcoholism if we’ve never had to deal with addiction.  And really... how dare we pretend to know all about homosexuality and condemn it if we've never experienced those kind of feelings.

It’s been said that our true character can be found in how we act when nobody’s looking.  It’s also been said that everybody has their price.  Is that true?  Could our integrity be bought by the right price, or the right temptation?  

I think that answer lies in our relationship with Christ.  It’s not that temptation disappears, but our greater desire is to become more Christ-like.  It’s not self-control or self-discipline or “self” anything that keeps us from making the wrong choices; it is our love for Jesus and our desire to be like him.  The more we get to know him and the deeper our bond, the more likely we are to make the right choices even in the most difficult of circumstances.

Lord Jesus,

Help us to continue to mature in our faith so that we are prepared when we face our greatest temptations.  Thank you that each time we fail, we need only ask your forgiveness and help to put our lives back together.  Amen.

Joys:  summer fruit...cherries... yum!; digital radio stations like Pandora and Spotify that play only the kind of music I feel like hearing; another interview for Kevin today