When she stretched out her hand, offering
The forbidden in covers of favor, promising
Diverse flavors, I knew better: should have
Done better than stretch out and roll along.
But no, I feared to offend, I hated to disappoint
So out I stretched, reaching for what I shouldn’t
Dragged from the place of grace, I lost the glory.
I knew better when that offer was made.
I should have said no and walked away
As fast as I could, I should have run away
Far from there, I should have stayed away
But I stood before temptation and before
Dawn I was down; floored by something
I should have known better than contend.
Food For Thought: Once upon a time, I was so bent on pleasing people I would take anything in the name of God, even when I knew that was not right. I preferred rather to be the one to suffer than be the one to afflict suffering upon another: the one cheated than the one cheating. And it wasn’t because I cherished pain. No. My principle of bearing rather than causing hurt was viewed as sacrificial love. But how long can you take wrong on the lane of love? That principle cost me because people often don’t learn right from wrong or from your suffering. People won’t treat you better than you treat yourself. And people won’t treat you better than you let them get away with. If you can take it, they will try it. If they do it once and get away, they will do it again and expect to be excused. Saying no can be very hard but it is mark of maturity and responsibility. Asking people to stop or calling their attention when they cross lines may be a tough sell but we will end up abused and precious relationships ruined if we don’t learn to speak up on time. As someone who has been there, I can tell you: no good comes back-rubbing ill. God’s command is that you love your neighbor as (not more than) you love yourself. You have to love and respect yourself to know the lines and to help others maintain it otherwise, it is a total loss for all involved.
Scripture: Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others Philippians 2: 4.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I make no excuses for the errors of ignorance, but nothing kills the conscience of the righteous like falling into known errors: from sins known and unknown, deliver me O God, amen.