Thought for the day
Did you hear about the expensive meal at Burger King in Palmdale, California a while back? George Beane ordered two Whopper Jr.s and two Rodeo cheeseburgers when he pulled up to the drive-through window. The cashier forgot that she had entered the $4.33 charge on his debit card, and she punched in the numbers again without erasing the original ones — creating a total bill of $4,334.33. The electronic charge went through to George's checking account and left him penniless.
It's being promoted as "the most expensive meal in history." That seems a little extreme to me. I'm sure there are many other meals which have brought a higher tab than that. But, I would like to cast MY vote for the most expensive meal in history.
In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve ate some fruit which turned out to be extremely expensive. It cost them their home in the Garden of Eden. It cost them their relationship with one another. It cost them their relationship with God. And additional costs have been passed down to every man and woman who have lived on the face of this earth ever since.
The truth of the matter is that sin always has consequences. We play games in our mind and try to deny it becuase we like to play with fire thinking that we'll never get burned (even though everybody else has). We like to flirt with sin thinking that "I can do this and it won't hurt anything" but it always does. Sometimes, like Adam and Eve, sin affects our relationship with others around us -- husbands, wives, children, parents, church family, friends. And sin always affects our relationship with God.
And if our sin remains unforgiven, it can cost us our eternal home. It's a high price to pay for a few moments of selfish enjoyment.
Listen to this warning from James: "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers." (James 1:13-16)Don't be deceived! Partaking of sin will result in a bill far greater than you ever could have imagined. Even greater than the cost of burgers in California these days.
Verses
Hebrews 11:1
What is faith? It is that which gives substance to our hopes, which convinces us of things we cannot see.
Matthew 13:15
for the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their heart and turn, so that I should heal them.'
Matthew 11:29-30
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Philippians 4:19
My God is very rich with the glory of Christ Jesus.
God will use his riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need.
Prayer
Father, it comes very naturally to encourage and instruct others in Your teachings. But it is much more difficult to bring loving correction to one who has chosen to live in disobedience to Your command. Help me to go forth as one pure in heart, humble in spirit, and earnest in prayer when I am commissioned to be Your messenger of life-giving rebuke. When the messenger is pure in motive and the message is received in the right spirit then correction will take place, just as it did with David and Nathan. Though I cannot be assured of the desired results help me to find blessing in having been obedient to Your Spirit’s leading. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
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