My husband recently told me that I get inspiration in the strangest of places. This is a prime example of why he's not wrong. But I'm getting pretty used to the weird things God will work with in order to make His point.
We have three boys, the youngest of whom is not quite 2. Soon the Littlest will begin his toilet training adventure so we have already acquired a little potty, to allow him to get used to the mechanics of getting on and off the potty successfully. Mostly though, it is used as a stool, or a crown, or a bucket.
Last night was not much different. However this time, Littlest had removed the bright orange insert and opted to stand inside the green part. I looked over to see him attempting to shuffle across the living room with this potty base around his feet. In spite of the general comedic effect, it was pretty apparent that if he continued on in this manner he was very likely to get hurt. As any parent or guardian would do, I told Littlest to stop and step out or he was probably going to fall. He grinned his infamous pot-stirring grin, and continued to do exactly what I had just warned him against.
I am sure you have already guessed what happened next. Moments later, Littlest took a tumble when he tried to go faster than his self-imposed restraints would allow. Fortunately there was no blood and only a couple of tears, at which point Littlest decided it was no longer a fun game, and directed his energy into other activities. Shaking my head, I made a comment to the effect of "If you had listened to me the first time, that wouldn't have happened."
As soon as the words left my lips, I felt in my Spirit that I was not much better. I often choose to bind myself with behaviours and attitudes that do me no favours. I wonder how many times God has looked at my mess, shaken His head and said "That's exactly why I told you to get rid of that. I knew it would hurt you. Will you believe me now?"
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV
That's the thing about sin. Anything that takes you farther away from the heart of God will eventually trip you up. It doesn't have to be big. It doesn't even have to be something that is, by it's very nature, a "bad" thing. In my son's case, the thing that hurt him was a good and useful tool being used incorrectly. The mere fact that you are allowing anything to come between you and God is enough to do damage. And the longer you continue to tie yourself to it, the more damage it can do.
God is not asking you to throw off sin for His sake. Not really. He wants you to be able run the race before you freely, without hinderance. This is about keeping us from hurting ourselves. It's a lesson that has taken me a lifetime to learn, and as much as I'd like to be able to say I have mastered it, I still struggle. But the more I keep my gaze on Christ, the easier it becomes to step out of the snares and keep pressing forward.
And when I knock myself down, I trust my Heavenly Father to help me back up, so I can keep on running.
Comments